









Copyright N” 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 











ALYS- ALL -ALONE 









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ALYS-ALL-ALONE 


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ALYS-ALL-ALONE 


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BY 

UNA MACDONALD 




ILLUSTRATED BY 

HELEN F. LYON 





BOSTON 

L. C. PAGE & COMPANY 
MDCCCCXI 





Copyright^ 1911 
By L. C. Page & Company 

(INCOBPORATED ) 

All rights reserved 


First Impression, August, 1911 



Eioctrotyped and Printed by 
THE COLONIAL PEESS 
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, U.S.A. 


©CI.A'<a93736 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 



PAGE 

I. 

Prelude 


1 

11. 

A Peep at the Locket 


. 16 

III. 

The Sunshine - maker 


. 25 

IV. 

The Reel Unwinds 


. 40 

V. 

The Closed Room 


. 47 

VI. 

The Ethics of Hair . 


. 56 

VII. 

Alys - All - Alone 


. 62 

VIII. 

The Biggest Doll Party 

IN THE 


World .... 


. 69 

IX. 

Dolls Wanted 


. 79 

X. 

The Little Sisters of the Poor 

. 84 

XI. 

Jingle - Jack .... 


. 107 

XII. 

A Chapter of Incidents . 


. 116 

XIII. 

Alys at Brierwood . 


. 128 

XIV. 

Alys - All - Alone Talks . 


. 141 

' XV. 

Wiggles - Waggles 


. 147 

XVI. 

More about Wiggles - Waggles 

. 155 

XVII. 

Ten Dollars Reward 


. 162 

; XVIII. 

A Real Mother Friend . 


. 171 

XIX. 

One Thousand Times Too 

Much 


Money .... 


. 183 

XX. 

The Drive .... 


. 188 

XXI. 

“ Clover House 


. 196 

XXII. 

An Alys Ramble . 


. 212 

XXIII. 

Alys in Blunderland 


. 221 

XXIV. 

A Love of a Locket . 

vii 

• 

. 243 


CONTENTS 


viii 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXV. The Loss o^’ l Locket . . . 251 

XXVI. The Meeting 260 

XXVII. The Singer 273 

XXVIII. Interlude 280 

XXIX. The Singer’s Story .... 286 

XXX. “ Home, Sweet Home ” . . . 296 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


» 

PAGE 

Alys - All - Alone Frontispiece 

‘ We’ll turn this play - room into the 
Castle of Sunshine and Cheer . . 33 

“ ^ Here’s a beautiful doll,’ said Alys ” . 96 

“ ^ Talk to poor little Alys - All - Alone ’ ” 173 
‘ Thanks be that my Tim is a man and not 

A MOOSICHEN ’ ” 243 

Alys nestling in her mother’s arms before 
THE FIRE ” 280 


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ALYS- ALL-ALONE 


CHAPTER I 

PRELUDE 

LYS, herself, knew nothing about 



the chain of events that fate had 


linked with her earliest years. She 
had, it is true, a vague impression of some 
of them. Among other treasures stored 
away in her childish memory was a picture 
of a quaint house with lavish flower bor- 
ders, and of a great spreading tree under 
which, on a rustic bench, she used to sit and 
listen to a beautiful lady singing. 

Alys called this memory house a fairy 
castle and felt very sure, although she had 
never seen them, that fairies frolicked 
under the great tree when no one was look- 
ing, and even slept in the pretty flower 
beds, when she was fast asleep in her own 
little bed. 


1 


2 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


There was one occasion in this pretty 
home that had left so deep an imprint on 
Alys’s mind she had never quite forgotten 
it. It was a time when good cheer reigned 
over the wide world and in Alys’s little 
German Castle ’’ lights gleamed from 
many windows and wreaths of Christmas 
green were everywhere to be seen. Smiling 
children met one with the season’s greet- 
ings on their lips, while their elders seemed 
to be hurrying hither and thither with great 
bundles and mysterious packages. 

Most wonderful of all was a room in this 
castle, filled with the toys and things all 
children love, and in the very centre stood 
a glorious Christmas Tree. Alys often as- 
sured her dolls that there were a thousand 
candles on this tree, that the gold star 
shining at its top had dropped right down 
from the sky. 

The beautiful lady who sometimes sang 
to Alys was in this room of the wonderful 
Christmas Tree, standing beside Alys’s 
papa and holding his hand as they looked 
at the tree together. 

There was still another person, a stout, 


PRELUDE 


3 


pleasant-faced woman, wearing many stiff 
skirts that rustled like paper whenever she 
moved and when she seated herself. Alys 
remembered that her fingers held long knit- 
ting needles which she plied so rapidly that 
the child watched her fiying fingers, fasci- 
nated. This was Frau Boveri, a widowed 
sister of Alys’s papa, who, having no chil- 
dren of her own, spent a part of every day 
with the child Alys, whom she dearly loved. 

Now, all these facts were the lights in 
Alys’s beautiful memory picture; the shad- 
ows, happily, she did not know. 

She did not know, for instance, that that 
vivid Christmas was the last she ever spent 
in the little German city which was her 
birthplace. 

A few years before the story opens, the 
mother of our little Alys, only daughter of 
a rich New York banker, had married a 
poor musician against her father’s wishes. 

Choose between us,” her father had 
said bitterly, your father or your foreign 
fiddler.” The girl did choose, and the 
proud man, humbled to the dust, had shut 
himself up in his beautiful home. Pine- 


4 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


hurst; '' lonely Pinehurst/' the neighbors 
called it ever after. 

People often said that the banker loved 
his children too well; that was the reason, 
they whispered, that his only son was way- 
ward and headstrong, and his only daugh- 
ter, wilful. They called her wilful because 
she had married to please herself rather 
than the fashionable world in which she 
moved. She was a beautiful girl with the 
happiest disposition in the world; she could 
sing like a bird, and the great banker was 
very proud of her. Her marriage, however, 
had hurt him more than all the wild esca- 
pades of his son, and rumor said that he 
never wanted to see her face again. 

Be that as it may, she had wedded the 
man she loved and they had gone to live 
abroad. 

As the months slipped away into years, 
all the bitter feeling against the daughter 
he loved so deeply died in the man’s heart. 
He longed for a sight of her, and she con- 
stantly yearned for him. He had been a 
loving, a most indulgent father, and the girl 
was devoted to him. 


PRELUDE 


5 


One day, a letter found its way to the 
lonely man in his gloomy mansion; a pa- 
thetic, homesick letter it was, in spite of 
the new tone of mother love in it, and the 
news of the wonderful baby girl that had 
come to brighten the little German cottage 
away across the sea. 

For many months following, father and 
daughter wrote to each other, and loving, 
happy letters they were. The girl urged 
her father to take a journey across the 
water and see the new baby, her dear little 
Alys; and for many, many months the 
young mother, in that far-off German city, 
watched and waited for word or sign in her 
father’s letters that might mean he would 
come. Suddenly his letters ceased alto- 
gether. At first she was puzzled, then one 
day the thought flashed into her mind that 
perhaps he was coming to see her at last, he 
might even then be on the way! 

She ran like a happy child to tell her 
hopes to her husband and the good Frau 
Boveri, who were both sitting under the 
great tree in the garden with the little Alys. 

He wishes to surprise us,” she said, it 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


would be so like my dear father, he was 
always planning happy surprises for me/’ 

That would be indeed a great happi- 
ness, my dear, if your father comes to us,” 
said the musician, smiling at her enthusi- 
asm, but a close observer would have de- 
tected a shadow on his fine face. A sudden, 
swift fiush had swept over him as the 
thought that his beautiful wife, so far from 
her native land and those she loved, might 
not, perhaps, be quite happy. The knowl- 
edge, too, that her father had not deemed 
him worthy of her — ah! that hurt more 
than all else. 

This poor musician was one of nature’s 
noblemen, honest, brave, generous. He 
was, as well, a genius in his chosen pro- 
fession; one who was rapidly making a 
name for himself. 

Father will come, I am sure,” said the 
young mother, catching up the child and 
covering its small face with kisses. My 
little Alys will see the kindest and best 
grandfather in all the world.” 

But the man did not come; instead, a 
few days later, a message arrived telling 


PRELUDE 


7 


the girl that her father was very ill, that 
he was calling for her, and that the doc- 
tor thought the sight of her would help 
him. 

Then, although it was in the heart of 
winter, the young mother decided to leave 
her husband and baby in the little German 
city and hasten on her journey to her 
father ^s bedside. 

At first the musician, who was then in 
the midst of a musical production, thought 
of giving up everything and accompanying 
his wife, but she would not permit him to 
make the sacrifice. I will not be long 
away, Karl. I will bring my father back 
here with me.’^ 

It was out of the question to take the 
little Alys on this long journey, and hap- 
pily the young mother did not worry in the 
least about leaving her baby. Had not the 
good Frau Boveri taken almost complete 
charge of the child since its birth? Why, 
she would not at first let the young mother 
so much as hold her own baby! Ach! ” 
she would say, Elaine, you and Karl do 
not know so much yourselves, already yet.’’ 


8 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Elaine and Karl would laugh softly to- 
gether at the good Frau’s words, happy in 
the knowledge of the great love she had for 
their pretty baby. 

In due time the young mother reached 
Pinehurst and her eyes grew moist as they 
looked on the familiar scenes of her happy 
girlhood. For many weeks after her ar- 
rival, her father was very ill, then there was 
a change and very gradually he began to 
grow better. She was the happiest girl in 
the world the day that the great specialist 
said to her You have saved your father’s 
life.” 

She wrote at once a long letter telling 
the good news to the musician hard at work 
with his composing in the little home across 
the water. 

She did not tell him, however, that she 
had discovered that one of the causes of her 
father’s illness was worry and trouble over 
the wayward brother. The young man had 
borrowed vast sums of money and had lost 
it all in wild speculation. At last he had 
lured his father into one of the schemes and 
the shrewd banker, for the first time in his 


PRELUDE 


9 


life, had made a grave mistake. His losses 
were so heavy that all but a small portion 
of his great wealth was swept away. The 
beautiful estate, Pinehurst, was his no 
longer, and he told his daughter one day 
that, just as soon as he was able, they would 
have to leave it. 

Never mind, father/’ said the girl, 
“ come back with me to Germany.” 

Are you going to leave me, too; must 
I lose all? ” cried the sick man. 

No, no, father, I shall stay with you 
until you are your old self again, but, when 
you are strong and well, a trip across the 
water would do you good and, oh! father, 
I want you to see my baby, my dear little 
Alys! ” 

Well, well, perhaps I shall go, Elaine, 
but first I must recoup my fortime — I am 
not so old yet, — people shall not point 
their finger at Geoffrey Hurd and say, 
‘ There goes one who played the game and 
lost.’ No, I shall win, Elaine, win, and you 
shall help me! ” 

Yes, yes, father,” said the girl with 
wistful eyes, we shall help each other, but 


10 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


do not talk about it now, you are not strong 
enough yet/’ 

The day before Elaine and her father left 
Pinehurst forever, she had the servants 
take down from its place on the wall a full 
length portrait of herself. She sighed as 
she looked at it and asked herself if she had 
really ever been so fair, so care-free, as the 
girl in the misty blue dress who smiled at 
her from the massive gold frame. 

That night she wrote another long letter 
to her husband telling him of the many 
changes, and ending by saying, ‘‘ I cannot 
go back yet, my father needs me ; he is very 
weak and helpless and does not realize his 
condition. It is really pathetic the way he 
talks about the great things he is going to 
do when he is himself again, but I am 
afraid he never will be himself again; he 
has aged twenty years since his illness and 
the loss of his fortune has been like some 
terrible blow— he is dazed. Strangest of all, 
he has grown to depend upon me for every- 
thing; it is almost as if I were the parent 
and he the child — so unlike my dear 
father. But, since I cannot go to you jet. 


PRELUDE 


11 


my dear, I am sending you that picture of 
myself that you always loved so well — ’’ 

The answer to this letter was so full of 
hope and love and good cheer that the girl 
cried softly, in spite of herself, when she 
had read it over and over again. 

In the meantime she and her father had 
taken a small house in the suburbs. He was 
strong enough now to take the trip abroad, 
and the physician had declared it was just 
what he needed; but, notwithstanding the 
doctor’s words and his daughter’s gentle 
pleading, the man would not go. 

Not yet, Elaine, not yet! Wait a little 
while ; I have work to do first, then I shall 
go with you.” 

And the girl sighed and waited. 

Then the day came that he gathered to- 
gether the remnants of his great fortune 
and determined to stake all in one last 
venture. It was for his daughter, his beau- 
tiful Elaine. He would be able yet to give 
her the great fortune that he always meant 
should be hers. 

The spiders of Wall Street had woven a 
golden web and poor Geoffrey Hurd, like 


12 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

hundreds of others, walked into it, was 
caught in its merciless grasp, and lost every 
dollar that he had. 

His daughter wrote the story to her hus- 
band in Germany and, although the letter 
tried to be brave, the man knew that her 
heart was very sad. 

He determined to leave the little home in 
Germany, give up his promising career 
there and, with his child, go to his wife in 
America. 

On hearing his decision, the good Frau 
Boveri, heartbroken at the thought of be- 
ing separated from her dear little Alys, de- 
termined to go also. 

On the very day that the young wife re- 
ceived a letter from her husband, announ- 
cing his decision to join her, Geoffrey Hurd 
passed peacefully away, having died while 
he slept. 

The girl was alone in her grief, as the 
wayward brother had, weeks before, gone 
to South America. 

When the funeral was over there was 
nothing to be done but wait, wait patiently 
for the dear ones that were coming to her. 


PRELUDE 


13 


It seemed almost too good to be true that 
they had already started and were even 
then on their way to her. 

But, alas ! for the young wife and mother 
who was awaiting them. They did not 
come, — instead, from one end of the land 
to the other came the news of the loss of 
their ship off the Banks of Newfoundland 
in the fog one bitter night, and the loss of 
every soul on board. 

This was the climax, as it were, to the 
series of misfortunes that had come into the 
young woman’s life. Worn out in body 
and mind, she sank under this last terrible 
blow and for many weeks hovered between 
life and death in a private hospital. It was 
one that had been richly endowed by her 
father in his prosperous days, and, through 
the care of its splendid staff of physicians 
and nurses, the young woman was gradu- 
ally nursed back to health and strength. 

When she left the hospital she went 
abroad to visit her only living relative, her 
father’s sister, who had married an Eng- 
lishman and lived in a small town near Bir- 
mingham. 


14 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Now the shuttle of fate had woven 
strangely into the lives of those dearest to 
this young woman. 

The musician and the child Alys had not 
been lost on the ill-fated steamer, but they, 
with a few others, had been picked up by 
a fishing vessel and brought to Gloucester 
after months of hardship and suffering. 

The man wrote at once to his wife’s ad- 
dress in the small suburban town, hoping, 
in spite of his fears, that she might still be 
awaiting some news from him. Needless to 
say that the letter was returned to him 
after many weeks, unopened. 

Alone with his child in a new country 
and almost penniless, the musician worked 
his way at last to one of the large cities 
where he had friends. With their aid he 
began a thorough search for his wife, a 
search that ended, alas ! at the doors of the 
private hospital, from which the young 
woman had gone forth alive and well. She 
had left no address, however, and her des- 
tination was imknown. 

One clew after another was taken up and 
followed only to prove worthless in the end. 


PRELUDE 


15 


Thus it was, when all these things had 
transpired, that Alys was alone with her 
father until Nora came to take care of her. 

Many months slipped away and all the 
time Alys was growing to be quite a girl, 
and gradually the mother became only a 
memory,— a lovely lady who in some mys- 
terious way had passed out of her life. 


CHAPTER n 

A PEEP AT THE LOCKET 

O NE gray morning, when the brown 
leaves were blowing about, Alys sat 
up in bed and began to sing: 

“ Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, 
Up-stairs, down-stairs, in his night gown/^ 

When the song was finished it popped 
into her bright head to try Willie Winkie ’s 
game herself, so jumping out of bed she 
ran as far as the hall door, where she 
stopped a moment to think. 

Down-stairs were Herr Stein’s apart- 
ments. He was a professor of music, a 
little man with a fringe of long hair on his 
round head. He wore great gold bowed 
glasses and always called Alys my little 
friendt.” 

It was really too early to pay a visit out- 
side the family. When Alys arrived at this 
conclusion she ran to her papa’s room. 

16 


A PEEP AT THE LO€KET 17 

She opened the door so softly that he 
never heard a sound, and Alys stood per- 
fectly still for a minute, very much sur- 
prised at what she saw. 

There was papa, her own dear papa, sit- 
ting at his desk, gazing at something in his 
hand, and even as she looked he bowed his 
head, while something very like a sob es- 
caped him. 

Papa is sorry about something and that 
will never do,” said the little girl, running 
to his side. 

What is it, papa dear? What is the 
matter? ” Papa straightened up at once 
and with smiles and kisses assured her 
there was nothing at all the matter, except 
that he was tired and his head ached a little. 
Alys thereupon hastened to explain her 
early visit. 

I^m playing ^ Wee Willie Winkie ’ this 
morning, papa. I can’t go up-stairs or 
down-stairs in my night-gown, can I, be- 
cause we live in a flat. If Wee Willie Win- 
kie lived in a flat he couldn’t run up-stairs 
or down-stairs, could he? Do you suppose 
Willie Winkie did live in a flat? Oh, papa. 


18 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


let me kiss your headache all better; there, 
there! ’’ she cried in soothing tones, and be- 
gan to rub papa’s head in much the same 
way that she would have smoothed her pet 
kitten, and papa held her close to his heart 
and kissed her sunny face. 

Do you know, papa, IVe thought of the 
loveliest thing for you and me to do; want 
to hear it? ” 

Yes, dear.” 

I’ll just whisper one word, and then 
you’ll knows all about it; now put your ear 
right down and listen.” 

He smilingly obeyed, and heard in a loud 
whisper: 

Ducks.” 

Pine, Alys; but not to-day, dear. This 
is my busy day, you know.” 

Don’t you like those dear, funny 
ducks? ” asked Alys, with the faintest pout 
on her red lips. 

I do, indeed, and I’d like to go with 
you, darling, and spend a whole day, yes, a 
week, feeding those hungry ducks, but you 
know that I cannot.” 

But I’m sure those poor ducks would 


A PEEP AT THE LOCKET 

like to see us. Oh, I wish you could come, 
papa.’’ 

‘‘ I wish I could, Alys, but it is impos- 
sible, to-day.” 

She sat very still for awhile, then, rais- 
ing a disappointed little face, asked softly: 

Is Do-re coming to-day? ” 

I think he is.” 

Does Do-re keep you from going to the 
ducks, papa? ” 

‘‘I’m afraid he does.” 

“ Then I don’t like him, so there! ” 

“Alys! ” 

“ Oh, papa, I can’t help it. Whenever I 
want you to come out and have a lovely 
time, some one comes, and you just play 
and play on that old violin, and Do-re stays 
longer than anybody else.” 

“ Alys,” said the man earnestly, “ you 
and I are quite alone here, and we must 
help each other. I must play on that old 
violin, and you are going to be a brave, 
patient girl to help me.” 

Alys gave a deep sigh. She had heard all 
this before, but, because she was so little 
a girl, she did not quite understand. She 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


SO 

wondered why her big, handsome papa had 
to stay long hours in his room while people 
came and played, and played, and played. 
AJys often said they worked and worked 
and worked,’’ which was indeed true. 

Sometimes her papa was alone in his 
study; but he still played, and wrote his 
music on large sheets of paper and then 
hummed it over to himself. Alys knew that 
on these occasions he was composing and 
never liked to be disturbed. 

It was a rare occasion, and a happy one, 
when the musician would put up the vio- 
lin, come out of the stuffy little room, and 
say: — 

Get your hat, Alys, and we’ll away to 
the park, and the ducks,” and Alys always 
clapped her hands and said Oh, goody, 
goody! ” 

It had been a long time, however, since 
he had taken her there because in the mean- 
time Do-re had come. 

Of course that was not his real name. 
Alys had called him that to herself one day 
when she heard him play two little notes 
over and over. 


A PEEP AT THE LOCKET 21 

She would have told you that Do-re was 
a big man, but he was only a great over- 
grown boy, and under any other circum- 
stances she would have liked him very 
much, because he liked little folks. 

He had never said so, you understand; 
but Alys felt it every time she saw him. 

Something bright, cheerful and alto- 
gether winning emanated from his whole 
being. He had a rare smile that seemed to 
start in the cleft of a square chin and settle 
in the corners of the kindest gray eyes in 
the world. His hair was so very thick 
and long and brown that it would per- 
sist in tumbling over on his forehead no 
matter how many times he brushed it 
back. 

Alys would have granted that Do-re was 
good to look at, and that he appeared to be 
a most persistent youth; but what Alys 
could not understand was the fact that her 
papa liked to talk with him. Indeed, they 
were great friends. 

He is coming to-day, so we can’t see 
the ducks; too bad! ” sighed Alys, all in a 
breath, and then, catching a glimpse of 


22 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


something very bright and golden, she 
cried: — 

What have you in your hand? Oh, 
papa, do let me see it! ’’ 

The man’s face became very grave as he 
opened wide his hand. 

A locket! A beautiful gold locket! 
Oh, when did you get it, papa? ” 

A long time ago,” he answered in a 
voice so low and strained, and he looked so 
sad, that Alys was afraid he was feeling 
badly again. She took the bright locket in 
her own little hand ^nd wondered to herself 
what there was about it that made papa 
look so serious. 

Isn’t it a lovely locket, and wouldn’t it 
look pretty on me? ” observed Alys, hold- 
ing it under her dear little chin. ‘‘ You 
better let me take it and keep it safe for 
you around my neck, papa.” 

I’m afraid you might lose it, darling; 
but some day I shall give it to you for your 
own. Now rim away like a good little girl, 
because I must get ready for work.” 

But some day it’s going to be mine, 
isn’t it? ” said Alys, wishing to be reas- 


A PEEP AT THE LOCKET 


sured on this point before returning the 
beautiful locket. 

It is, darling,” and, so saying, papa 
placed the locket in a beautiful case, and 
then locked it in a drawer. Alys ran out 
of the room but came back three times to 
ask about it. Then she hastened to find 
Nora, who was nurse-girl and cook and 
maid of all work in the small suite. While 
Nora was dressing her, Alys talked of the 
wonderful locket that she declared her 
papa kept out of sight, hidden away in a 
be-ootiful box, and some day it is going to 
be my very own! ” 

It is that,” cried Nora, wiping her face, 
which was very red, as she had been busy 
over a hot stove before her little charge 
appeared. 

‘‘Ill let you see it, Nora, when it’s mine, 
you know, and, if you take me out every 
day, I might let you wear it when you are 
all dressed up going to see Tim.” 

“You would, you darlin’! ” and Nora 
kissed Alys in a burst of gratitude over 
this generous offer. 

“ An’ it’s many a gold locket ye’ll have 


24 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


some day, an’ jewls an’ dimonds, for ye was 
bom to have them, darlin’. An’ it’s well 
they’d look on yer purty face; but now 
come an’ eat breakfast for yer own Nora, 
an’, if yer eat lots o’ breakfast, ye’ll grow 
a big, sthrong girl, an’ it’s a big, sthrong 
girl we want here. Indade there’s more 
truth in that last than ye’d be thinkin’,” 
said Nora, starting in with a will to begin 
her numerous labors. 


CHAPTER in 

THE SUNSHINE -MAKER 

I DONn want any breakfast this 
morning/’ said Alys. seating herself 
at the table, because I’m not hun- 
gry, Nora, you know.” 

Is it no breakfast yer talkin’ about,” 
said Nora, wiping her hands hastily and 
rushing to the little girl’s side. 

Come now, here’s the finest porridge in 
the coimthry, take one spoonful an’ see 
yourself grow.” 

Oh, you say that every day, Nora, and I 
don’t see myself grow one bit,” pouted 
Alys, who, I am sorry to say, had to be 
coaxed sometimes to eat her breakfast. 

Accorse yer can’t see yerself grow, 
darlin’, no one can see their selves grow — 
’less it is pleecemen,” added Nora. 

‘‘ Can policemen see themselves grow? ” 
asked the child, swallowing the proffered 
spoonful and becoming interested at once. 

25 


26 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


They can that! ’’ declared Nora, as she 
gave her another spoonful, and still an- 
other. ‘‘ Sure, some o^ thim grow so big 
when they go on the force they canT see 
their own relations.’’ 

No more breakfast, please, Nora.” 

One bit o’ baked apple, an’ that’s all, 
just one bite,” but Alys sat back in the 
chair and shook her pretty curls. 

‘‘No, thank you, Nora, not to-day.” 

“ An’ is that the way yer treat yer poor 
old Nora that cooks the finest apples in 
Ameriky for yer? ” 

Nora hid her face in her apron and pre- 
tended to cry. 

“ Are you real old, Nora? ” asked Alys, 
taking the merest taste of the baked apple. 

“I am not,” said Nora, sitting very 
straight. 

“ Is Tim? ” asked Alys, nibbling again. 

“ He is not,” said Nora, stoutly, “he’s 
like that apple there, he’s good and soft.” 

This remark pleased Nora so much she 
gave a peal of laughter. 

“ And he likes girls, an’ apples, he does,” 
added Nora, laughing again. 


THE SUNSHINE - MAKER 27 

Why? ’’ asked Alys, who was not 
aware that she had eaten the whole baked 
apple while Nora beguiled the time with 
her ready tongue. 

Why, now whoever heard the likes o’ 
such a question as that; but take a drink 
of milk, darlin’, an’ I’ll teU yer. 

Amd for what does Tim like girls an’ 
apples, shure now that’s a riddle en- 
toirely.” 

Oh, Nora, I didn’t ask you why Tim 
likes apples, of course he likes to eat them.” 

He does that, darlin’, an’ ther’s a girl 
that he’d like to eat, fur he said so, an’ now 
there’s yer milk all gone before yer knowed 
it, an’ ye’re a darlin’.” 

When the faithful Nora had talked ” 
Alys into eating a fairly good breakfast 
she bounced into the kitchen, leaving our 
little friend to amuse herself. Alys walked 
to the window and looked down at the 
street below until, growing tired of that, 
she sought her play-room. 

If I had been Alys’s papa I would not 
have placed a bright little soul like our lit- 
tle heroine in a suite where there were 


28 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


just so many rooms and no more/’ where 
everything, even the sunshine, seemed por- 
tioned off. 

Alys belonged in a dear old house, where 
the sun streamed through many win- 
dows, and where clematis and honeysuckle 
climbed, and tried to get inside those win- 
dows, too. 

There are no possibilities in a flat, but 
a rambling old house is just full of the most 
delightful possibilities in the world. 

There are sure to be dark closets, and 
darker cubby holes, and attics where won- 
derful things are hidden away. There are 
always great chests full of quaint things, 
old-fashioned clothes and laces yellow with 
age. But, best of all, it frequently happens 
that there is a haunted room. 

There was no haunted room in the flat 
wherein our little Alys dwelt. 

There was, it is true, a room that was 
always closed. Alys had tried to enter one 
day, but found the door locked. She won- 
dered about it, but everybody seemed too 
busy to tell her why the room was locked 
and after a while she forgot all about it. 


THE SUNSHINE - MAKER 


Alys’s father was not rich, and a suite of 
rooms was less expensive, and more conve- 
nient in many ways, than a house; but, 
since his little flower had to be raised in 
this way, he had given her the largest and 
simniest room in which to grow. 

When Alys had taken out her paper dolls, 
she placed them in a row on the window- 
sill and proceeded to play school. Bach doll 
had her name printed on the back, and, as 
Lillian was the favorite, she was put in the 
place of honor; then came Bessie and Bea- 
trice, and a dozen others. 

Good morning, children,” said the little 
teacher, and then, lowering her voice to 
very deep tones, answered, Good morn- 
ing, Miss Alys.” 

‘‘ I hope you’ll be real good children, to- 
day, and now run and play till I ring my 
bell. Please play gently, girls, and Bessie 
must not quarrel. If she does I’ll have to 
give her to the Indians to live in their coun- 
try forever! ” 

The row of dolls maintained a dignifled 
silence; but Alys made believe ” they 
were playing. She knocked a few of them 


BO 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


over, ran one up and down the length of 
the window, and stood Beatrice on her 
head. 

u There, there, children, you are really 
playing too rough, said the teacher,’’ 
placiug them all in order again. ‘‘You 
may take your places and we’ll sing.” 

Alys stood very straight and, beating 
time with a button hook, “ made believe ” 
that her children were singing. She had a 
wonderfully sweet voice, high and clear, 
and the words of the beautiful poem papa 
had taught her rang through the little play- 
room: — 

“ Hark, hark the lark 
At Heaven^s gate sings 
And Phoebus 'gins arise 
His steed to water at those springs 
On chaliced flowers that lies, 

With every thing that pretty bin 
My Lady sweet arise.^^ 

“ That will do, children,” said the little 
teacher, when she had finished the song; 
“ you sang that beautifully, children, just 
be-ootifully.” 

She played school with her dolls for a 


THE SUNSHINE - MAKER 31 

long time, but stopped suddenly when big 
rain-drops began to patter on the window. 

Oh! it’s raining, and Nora said if it 
rained I couldn’t go out, and now I’ll have 
to stay in all day long. Oh! dear,” and 
Alys sat on the floor and began to cry. 

She hadn’t been crying very long, how- 
ever, when suddenly the door of the play- 
room was pushed gently open. Alys looked 
up, and stopped in sheer astonishment, for 
there stood Do-re in the doorway, smiling 
at her! 

May I sit on my feet? ” asked Do-re 
earnestly. 

<< Why? ” asked Alys, forgetting to wipe 
away the tears at this strange request. 

“ Because it’s easier than standing on 
them.” 

Have you corns and onions? ” 

‘‘It’s worse than that,” he whispered, 
sitting on his heels beside the little girl. 

“ Nora has corns and onions.” 

“ Poor Nora! ” exclaimed the young 
man. 

“ Do you know her? ” asked Alys, dry- 
ing the last tear-drop. 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Well, er, I haven’t had the pleasure of 
a close acquaintance, but I believe I’ve met 
her a few times.” 

It’s too bad she’s so busy! She’s 
washin’ clothes to-day, or she might tell 
you all about her corns, but she doesn’t 
like to be disturbed when she’s washing. 
People have to wash, you know.” 

Do-re bowed his head in the wisest man- 
ner, while Alys went on: — Sometimes 
Nora stands and turns the cold water, and 
throws it all over her face, and then she 
runs to the roller and scrubs it, an’ then 
her face is be-ootiful, red and shiny; then 
she puts on a black dress and white apron 
and takes me out to walk. There’s a big 
policeman that we see sometimes. He’s 
Nora’s own cousin, Malachi-on-the-force, 
but he never speaks to her. She says his 
head is so big since he’s on the force he 
can’t see; but really it doesn’t look very 
large, and she told me when I went by to 
toss my head. I asked her if it was a game, 
and she said it was. Do you ever play that 
game with a policeman? But, oh! dear, I 
can’t go out to-day ’cause it’s raining. I’ll 


(( 



we’ll turn this play-room into the castle of sunshine and 

CHEER.’ ” 




THE SUNSHINE - MAKER SS 

have to stay in this old room all day. I 
think it’s mean, I do! I wish the sun would 
shine,” and the tears began to gather again 
in the blue eyes. 

Well, Alys, there isn’t any sunshine 
outside to-day, but we could make some 
inside if we tried; let’s try,” whispered 
Do-re. 

Make sunshine! ” exclaimed Alys, 
but you couldn’t make sunshine in the 
house! ” 

I’m sure we could,” and he nodded his 
head so vigorously, by way of emphasis, 
that the little girl began to believe in spite 
of herself. 

We’ll begin at once,” said Do-re, in a 
business-like manner; we’ll turn this 
play-room into the Castle of Sunshine and 
Cheer. You and I must be partners, and 
we’ll see how much sunshine we can make 
and what good cheer we can turn out in a 
short time.” 

Goody! ” cried Alys, jumping to her 

feet. 

Feel it coming already? ’’ asked Do-re, 
rising also. He went out of the room for 


34 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


a moment, and returned with a square of 
stiff white card-board, on which he printed 
in large letters: — 

THE CASTLE OF SUNSHINE AND CHEER 
I^RINCESS Alys — Prince Do-re 

Sunshine made and distributed to all parts of 
the house, free of charge. 

Good cheer made expressly for: — 

Dark Days. 

Disappointments. 

Dubious Faces. 

Cross-patches. 

Sick-rooms. 

Bitter Medicines. 

Bad News. 

Anger Clouds. 

Hard Lessons. 

Failures, Blues, and all Croakers. 

There, Alys, how does that sound? ’’ 

Be-ootiful, it sounds real.’’ 

And that’s just what I mean it shall 
be,” said the young man, putting a few 
extra flourishes on the great sign. 

In one corner he drew a small violin, the 
bow across the centre, on which two cher- 
ubs played see-saw, and Alys watched 


The sunshine - maker ^5 

every movement of the pencil, deeply in- 
terested. 

‘‘ Now, partner, I’m going to hang this 
sign over the door, and this is going to be 
our Castle of Sunshine and Cheer. 

If everything is not as bright as it 
should be, if things go wrong, if you are not 
running over with joy, come into this room, 
read the sign over the door, and then start 
at once to make sunshine.” 

But how do you do it. Do-re? ” 

You begin with a smile, then say that 
it is a beautiful day, and you are in one of 
the finest places on the earth (that is very 
important). Assure yourself that you are 
going to make some one happy, even if it is 
only yourself. Now we’ll begin. I’ll look 
at you, Alys, and you look at me, but we 
will not smile till we feel that we really 
must. Ahem. Alys, this is the most beau- 
tiful world I know of, it was made just for 
us, and I^m sure it likes to see us happy. 
Why, I’m so full of happiness that it bub- 
bles up, even when I don’t want it to, it’s 
bubbling up now, it’s running over, see, 


36 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Do-re began to smile, a little teeny, 
weeny ’’ smile, that grew and widened till 
it spread all over his face, and Alys was so 
fascinated watching it grow that she stared 
in wonder. 

Say something. Partner, say it 
quickly,’^ mumbled Do-re in the queerest 
manner. 

I think it is a be-ootiful day,’’ said 
Alys. 

It is indeed, Alys, the sun has been 
shining so much of late that the brown 
leaves and the little seedlings are all drying 
up; they need the rain. Why, even I am 
getting dry! I need some water,” declared 
Do-re with a little laugh. But that laugh 
began to grow, too. All at once his head 
was shaking, then his shoulders and finally 
his whole body. He laughed so heartily 
that Alys had to smile and before she knew 
it she, too, was laughing. 

Oh, you funny! ” cried Alys, ‘‘ what 
are you laughing at? ” 

Nothing, nothing, I assure you,” 
replied Do-re, laughing harder than 


ever. 


THE SUNSHINE - MAKER 


37 


But it isn’t nice to laugh at noth- 
ing,” remonstrated Alys. Besides, it’s 
silly.” 

But it’s better to laugh at nothing than 
to cry at nothing. Besides, it’s healthy, 
isn’t it? ” 

Ye-es, I suppose it is,” said the child, 
laughing again because it was so funny to 
watch Do-re trying not to laugh. At last 
the face of the sunshine-maker sobered 
and Alys sat on the floor, still regarding 
him with interest. Now I am going 
to sit at your side, Alys, because mine 
aches.” 

He drew funny pictures, and great birds 
and flowers, he cut out a violin and pre- 
sented it to Alys with a quaint little speech 
that set her thinking. 

‘‘I’m sure you can tell stories; can 
you? ” ventured the child. 

Do-re nodded affirmatively. 

“ I knew it! ” cried Alys, clapping her 
hands. “ Now please tell me one right 
off.” 

“ The reel? ” asked Do-re, smiling radi- 
antly. 


38 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


The reel! What do you mean by that, 
Do-re? ’’ 

I have a little reel right in here,” said 
the youth, pointing to his head, and 
there ’re ever so many stories woimd all 
around it. You said you wanted a story 
right off. You mean right off the reel, do 
you not? ” 

Yes, oh, yes! that is just what I mean, 
but I never knew people had little reels in 
their heads.” 

Didn’t you? Well, they have, and the 
funny part of it is folks don’t always know 
it.” 

“ How do they find it out? ” 

If the reel is there,” declared Do-re, 
it’s bound to unwind itself, and some day, 
presto! off comes a story, or a picture, or 
a musical rhapsody, or a great invention, 
or a wonderful discovery. Oh, I can’t begin 
to mention half of them. Once a man had 
a little reel in his head, and one day it began 
to unwind, and what do you suppose was 
at the end of it — a steam engine! Wasn’t 
that wonderful? Why, it was only yester- 
day that a youth, who had been unwinding 


THE SUNSHINE - MAKER 39 

a little reel since boyhood, flashed a wire- 
less message over the world. But enough! 
mine is beginning to unwind and I think 
it^s a story about ‘ The Little Eed 
Rooster.^ 


CHAPTER IV 

THE REEL UNWINDS 

NCE upon a time, Alys, — that far 
1 f off time of witches and goblins 
and fairies — there lived a dear 
little girl, whom we shall call Gretchen. 
Every day she used to sit in her pretty gar- 
den knitting socks for her baby brother. 
At the same time she could see a brood of 
hens and chickens that scratched in the dirt 
all day long. Sometimes they turned over 
a fat worm and then you should have heard 
them chuckle! 

There was a great, pompous rooster 
who strutted about in the midst of them, 
and looked indignantly at any one who 
dared to show his face. 

One day, Gretchen ’s father brought 
home a little red bantam rooster, and intro- 
duced him to the members of the poultry 
yard. 

The great big rooster cried out: — 

40 


41 


THE REEL UNWINDS 

** * Cock-a-doodle do-o-o-o, 

I don’t want you-u-u, ’ 

and the hen summoned all her chickens to 
her side, looked scornfully at the new- 
comer, and said: — 

‘ Get, get, get — ah! get/ 

^ Sorry, but IVe come to stay,^ replied 
the little red rooster, walking about as 
much at home as any of them. 

^ Look out for that little red rooster, 
Gretchen,’ said her father, ^ he is a prize,’ 
and the little girl as she sat at her knitting 
kept an eye on him. 

One afternoon, — it was dreamy sum- 
mer weather and soft white clouds floated 
in the blue sky — as Gretchen watched the 
clouds, and wondered about them, and 
thought how nice it would be to go sailing 
over the world on one of them, the fairies 
came and whispered something so sweet 
and soothing that the dear little girl fell 
fast asleep. Then they carried her off to 
fairy land, where she forgot all about the 
garden, the half-knitted sock, and the little 
red rooster. 


4,2 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


I am not going to tell you now what a 
beautiful time she had in fairy land. It 
would take too long; but I will say that, 
after an hour of wonderful doings, the fair- 
ies carried her back to the garden, where 
she rubbed her eyes and looked around. 

There was the garden, just as she had 
left it, the balsams, the four o ’clocks, the 
lazy hollyhocks leaning over the fence, all 
waiting for her; in her lap was the half- 
knitted sock, but the little red rooster was 
nowhere to be seen. 

Gretchen jumped up and looked about 
her. Every nook of the garden was ex- 
plored, but not a trace of the little red 
rooster could she find. 

‘ Oh! what will my father say! ’ cried 
Gretchen, ‘ and what a naughty girl I was 
to fall asleep.’ 

She opened the garden gate and ran 
into the road, where she met Johnny Wan- 
der. 

^ Oh! Johnny, did you see anything of 
a little red rooster? ’ 

‘ I think I did,’ said Johnny, rolling his 
eyes toward the village. 


THE REEL UNWINDS 


43 


^ It’s a prize,’ cried Gretchen; ^ I must 
find it,’ and off she started to run toward 
the village. 

^ A prize,’ murmured Johnny, who had 
heard that one word; ^ I, too, must find it,’ 
and he ran after her as fast as his legs 
would take him. 

<< < Whither away so fast? ’ asked Old 
Mother Hipperty Hop, hopping out of her 
cottage. 

‘ A prize, a prize! ’ screamed Johnny, 
without stopping. 

^ A prize! ’ echoed the old woman, ^ I, 
too, must follow,’ and away fiew Old Mother 
Hipperty Hop down the road behind 
J ohnny. 

‘ What’s the matter, what’s the mat- 
ter? ’ cried a fat butcher, stopping his cart. 

^ A prize! ’ cried Old Mother Hipperty 
Hop. 

^ A prize? ’ roared the fat butcher, 
and, jumping out of his cart, he started 
after them, with a great cleaver in his hand. 

‘‘‘What has happened?’ asked Dame- 
do-nothing, sitting on her door-step; but 
the fat butcher was too busy to answer, and 


44 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


she ran after him for want of nothing bet- 
ter to do. Then Peter Simple spied them 
and he, too, ran, though he did not know 
why. 

^ It^s a bag of gold! ^ said a greedy man, 
throwing down his shovel and following in 
the chase. 

‘ Some one is killed! ’ cried an old 
woman. 

‘ Awful disaster! ’ said another. 

^ Man blown into the sea! ’ said a third. 

‘ A woman lost her breath! ’ said a wag. 

^ A baby swallowed his thumb! ’ said 
another; and they all followed down the 
road, and over the hedges, and through the 
fields, and up the hills, and across the val- 
ley. 

Dogs barked and cocks crowed as on 
flew G-retchen, the leader, in a mad race, 
and they too ran after Peter Simple, who 
ran after Dame-do-nothing, who ran after 
the fat butcher, who ran after Old Mother 
Hipperty Hop, who ran after Johnny Wan- 
der, who ran after Gretchen, who ran after 
the little red rooster. 

At last, weary and footsore, Gretchen 


THE REEL UNWINDS 45 

turned into a road that led to her own little 
garden, and, when in sight of her father’s 
barn, she stood perfectly still. 

All the village stood perfectly still. 

‘‘ Gretchen pointed to the top of the barn, 
where, perched as a weather-cock, was the 
little red rooster. 

‘ Ah! ’ said Gretchen. 

‘ Ah! ’ said the whole village. 

‘ The wind is in the east,’ said Gretchen. 

‘‘ ‘ So is our business, it seems,’ said the 
wise ones, and then they all turned and 
went on their way, while Gretchen ran into 
the house to tell about the little red rooster, 
and, while she related the story, the fairies 
who had put her to sleep, and were hiding 
near by, laughed softly.” 

Is that all? ” asked Alys, when Do-re 
had finished. 


“ I had a little awl, 

I stuck it in the wall, 

And that^s all. ” 

That’s a pretty good story,” said Alys. 
Will you please tell me another right off 
the reel? ” 


46 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

I will, but not to-day,’^ said the young 
man, taking out his watch. I must go 
now, but please remember that this room 
is your Castle of Sunshine and Cheer. 
You must come in here every day, read that 
sign over the door, and make all the cheer 
you can. 

Suddenly Do-re stooped very low and 
whispered something in Alys’s ear. She 
smiled at him and answered yes,’’ and 
Do-re hurried from the room. 

I think I’ll do it now,” said the child, 
running to find her papa. 

Papa dear, I want to tell you that this 
is a beautiful day, and I’m happy, and I 
love you, and I’m going to make sunshine 
for you every day. Now, papa, let me kiss 
you.” 

Papa took Alys in his arms and kissed 
her, wondering what new secret his little 
girl was bent on divulging. 

That kiss was for myself,” said Alys; 
‘‘now, please kiss me again.” That one 
was for Do-re. 


CHAPTEE V 

THE CLOSED ROOM 

N OEA put Alys to bed one night a 
week later and kissed her again 
and again. 

‘‘ Good night, darlin’, may the holy an- 
gels be nigh yer till mornin’, an’ snuggle 
up warm, Alys, for it’s cold. ^ It’s a cold, 
stormy night, to-night. I wish my Johnny 
was home to-night,’ ” crooned Nora, as she 
tucked the child in her little bed, an’ now 
good night an’ go right to sleep like a good 
girl.” 

But Alys did not go to sleep at once; she 
lay awake for a while and thought of many 
things. She knew that her papa would not 
be at home that evening. He was going to 
play at a grand concert and expected to be 
out very late. He had told all this to his 
little girl when he came to kiss her good 
night just before he started. He wore a 

47 


48 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


coat with a queer sort of cape, and the dear 
violin was under his arm. Alys thought 
that he looked very handsome. When he 
had gone she said a little prayer that always 
slipped into her mind the minute she got 
into bed: — 

Now I lay me down to sleep, 

I pray the Lord my soul to keep, 

If I should die before I wake 
I pray the Lord my soul to take/^ 

adding at the last: — 

And please watch over papa, and, if he 
should die before he wakes, don’t let him, 
dear Lord, Amen.” 

It was, of course, a foolish little prayer; 
but Alys did not know that it was. No one 
had ever told her. It was said in all childish 
faith and love, which is, after all, the best 
part of prayer. She tried to imagine just 
how her papa would look when he played 
before all the people. She had never heard 
him play anywhere except in his room, but 
Nora had often described his performance 
in public by saying: — 

He’s the finest fiddler in the counthry.” 


THE CLOSED ROOM 


49 


The little girl knew that her papa was a 
great musician. Do-re had told her a great 
deal about it. One day, when this lively 
young man was having a frohc in the Castle, 
he had stopped suddenly in the midst of a 
game to exclaim, ‘‘ Hush, child, listen! ’’ 

Her father was playing in his room and 
for several moments Do-re just stood and 
listened. He seemed to forget all about 
Alys and, when she finally pulled his coat 
very hard to get him out of his revery, he 
cried out, “ Ah! Alys, it is beautiful; your 
father is a genius.’’ 

Alys thought of all this and was glad that 
she had a papa who could play beautiful 
music. ‘‘ It would be very nice to have a 
mamma, too,” thought the child, because 
there were times that papa was so busy he 
could not see her. Poor little Alys! The 
only mother she knew was Nora, who never 
could take the place of mother ” to a 
little being like Alys. 

But Nora had a big, generous heart, and 
what she lacked in some things she more 
than made up in the real affection she had 
for the little girl. Alys was tended with 


50 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


willing hands and Nora’s loving eyes 
watched over her, but the hands were not 
firm enough to lead Alys always in the right 
path, nor were the eyes so deeply tender 
that they could detect a fiaw in the child’s 
disposition. Only the wise mother can do 
this. Alys was .very fond of her own way 
and cried sometimes if she did not get it, 
and when she cried she always did get it 
from Nora. But, although a very hiunan 
little girl, her faults were few, indeed, com- 
pared with her graces, chief of which was a 
loving, generous heart filled to overflowing 
with love and childish sympathy. 

It would be so nice to have a mother,” 
thought Alys. A mother like many she had 
seen in the park and on the street with 
little girls. 

She wondered, as she lay there in bed, 
why she did not have one. She had learned 
long ago that it was a subject not to be dis- 
cussed with papa. One day, when she had 
spoken of it to him, he had been so visibly 
affected that Alys had never quite forgotten 
it. Her loving little heart had told her that 
it made him unhappy to speak of it, and so 


THE CLOSED ROOM 51 

it was never mentioned. But sometimes in 
her waking dreams Alys saw a beautiful 
woman — the ‘‘ dream-picture mother/’ 
Alys called her— bending over her. She 
was puzzled about it, too, because at times 
it seemed as if the woman was not a 
dream-picture mother ” at all, but had 
really bent over Alys at some past time, 
had actually kissed her and held her close 
as real mothers do, and, away back in a 
little corner of the child’s heart, she felt 
that this beautiful picture of a golden- 
haired woman bending over her was not a 

dream-picture ” after all, but was her 
own mother who was alive and well and 
some time would come back to her. This 
was a little secret that Alys treasured in her 
inmost soul, telling nobody, not even Do-re, 
who had become her dearest friend. He 
heard all her plans and told her many of 
his own, besides the most beautiful fairy 
stories in the world. 

At last Alys dozed off to a dreamful sleep. 
She had eaten a great deal of candy that 
afternoon and so it was not strange that 
some time in the wee sma’ hours she awoke 


52 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

suddenly with a cry for Nora. At the same 
time strains of melody seemed to fill the 
little room. Alys, now wide awake, knew 
that her papa was playing in his study and 
she listened to the music. After a while the 
door opened and Nora appeared. She 
struck a light and seated herself at the foot 
of the bed, looking at the child. For a long 
time Nora did not speak. She was listening 
to the music that seemed to grow weirdly 
sad, and all at once she began to cry. 

Oh! my poor darlin’, what makes him 
play like that at this hour o’ the night? I 
dunno, there’s something on the masther’s 
mind to-night that’s troublin’ him an’ 
troublin’ me. It’s terrible lonely an’ home- 
sick I feel; me heart aches, an’ I don’t know 
why, at all, at all.” Nora rocked gently 
back and forth while the tears streamed 
down her cheeks. 

Does the music make you cry, Nora? ” 
asked Alys, sitting up in bed. 

I don’t know what it is, darlin’. 
There’s a poor ould mother I left behind 
me in Ireland. She was crying soft the 
day I went away. ^ Will yer come back. 


THE CLOSED ROOM 53 

Nora/ says she, ' you and Johnny was all 
I had afther nine, and Johnny went to be a 
sojer. You ^11 not forget me, Nora, but ye’ll 
come back,’ says she, she did; an’ I never 
went back. An’ it’s lonely she’s lookin’ 
over the sea to-night, an’ think o’ me savin’ 
me money to marry Tim an’ forgettin’ me 
ould mother, an’ the little cabin, an’ the 
graves on the hill. Oh, Alys, darlin’.” 

Nora grieved from the depths of her 
being and Alys’s sensitive little soul was 
touched. She began to cry softly, feeling 
something of the girl’s bitter sorrow and 
homesick longing. The sight of Alys’s 
tears made Nora dry her own hastily. She 
ran to the bedside and crooned to the child 
and bade her lie down and go to sleep. 
After a while the music ceased and Nora 
put out the light and went back to her own 
room. But Alys could not go to sleep. She 
lay awake and wondered why her papa 
played music so late at night that made 
poor Nora cry. 

Suddenly she felt that she would like to 
go to him, so she slipped out of bed and tip- 
toed to the door. She opened it softly and, 


54 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


groping her way in the dark, reached her 
father’s room. A dim light burned on his 
desk, but he was not there, and she turned 
away and stood for a second in the dark- 
ened hall. 

Suddenly a ray of light issued from the 
room that was always locked. Alys stepped 
softly to the door, which was ajar a few 
inches, and, opening it a little wider, she 
looked in. 

Oh, what a strange sight met her eyes, 
strange, but very beautiful! There on the 
wall hung a full length portrait of the love- 
liest woman Alys had ever seen; a woman 
with hair that had caught a glint of the 
sun’s gold, and eyes like great blue stars, a 
smiling woman with something misty-blue 
clinging to her in exquisite folds and sweep- 
ing around her feet. Alys knew that her 
father was holding the curtain in his hand 
as if he had just drawn it back from the 
picture, that he was standing before it as if 
he would never leave it; but she did not look 
at him. It was the picture of the beautiful 
woman that held her childish gaze, and the 
woman’s eyes were looking right at her. 


THE CLOSED ROOM 


55 


The child stood there a long time. It must 
have been a very long time, because at last 
her teeth chattered with cold, but all at 
once her father drew the dark curtain that 
hid the picture from sight, and buried his 
face in his hands. He had never seen Alys, 
and she, half frightened, had crept back to 
her own little bed, and cried herself to sleep, 
though she could not tell why. 


CHAPTER VI 

THE ETHICS OF HAIR 

HE next morning, when Nora came 



to dress her, Alys was on the point 


of telling her all that had hap- 
pened, but it flashed into her mind how 
unhappy Nora had been the night before, 
and how sad the beautiful picture in the 
closed room seemed to make her own dear 
papa, so she remained silent. 

It was the first time in her short life 
that Alys had ever refrained from telling 
Nora anything. 

As the day went on she thought about 
the beautiful picture a great deal. No one 
knew that she had seen it. It was a secret 
which she meant to keep, but after a while 
the secret grew so heavy that she felt there 
was one person she must tell, and that was 
Do-re. 

He was coming that day for a lesson. 


56 


THE ETHICS OF HAIR 57 

Alys watched and waited until he had fin- 
ished, and then beckoned to him to follow 
her to the Castle of Sunshine and Cheer. 

.When they were inside, Do-re brushed 
back the heavy brown hair from his boyish 
face, placed one hand on his heart and said, 
dramatically: 

We are now in the Castle of Sunshine 
and Cheer; command me, fair Princess, and 
I obey.’’ 

He pointed toward the big sign as he 
spoke, and Alys glanced up, too, saying: 

It has been very hard to make cheer 
to-day.” 

And prithee why, fair Princess? ” 

There’s an old woman sitting on Ire- 
land, and Nora feels dreadfully about it.” 

Do-re looked so puzzled at this remark 
that Alys hastened to tell him about Nora’s 
visit to her room the night before, and how 
quiet and depressed she had been all that 
day, then, lowering her voice, she related 
the story of the beautiful picture in the 
closed room. 

The young man’s sunny face grew sober 
when he heard about it, but he did not 


58 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


speak, and Alys grew a little impatient, 
waiting for him to say something. 

Why don’t you tell me who the picture 
is and all about it? ” she cried impatiently. 

Do-re shook his head, saying I cannot 
do that, Alys, because I have never seen 
it. 

Perhaps some day,” he added, your 
father will tell you about it; until then I 
wouldn’t ask him; and now, little girl, 
promise me that you will start right in and 
make sunshine and cheer for him; for Nora, 
too; for everybody. Will you promise? 

Do-re stayed until Nora came to dress the 
little girl for her afternoon walk. At the 
door, he turned again and said, Remem- 
ber your promise, Alys.” At this remark 
Nora straightened up and looked at Do-re 
with something very like suspicion. 

Luk here, darlin’,” said Nora, when 
Do-re had disappeared, I don’t doubt that 
dood’s harmless; but don’t yer never make 
anny promises to anny one wid long hair.” 

Why? ” asked Alys, wondering. 

Because they’re not to be thrusted, 
that’s why, darlin’! ” 


59 


THE ETHICS OF HAIR 

But you are to be trusted, Nora,’’ said 
the child quickly. 

Wid millions, darlin’! millions if it was 
for you.” 

And you have long hair, Nora, haven’t 
you? ” 

Acoorse I have. Is it short hair ye’d 
be givin’ me? I didn’t mean faymales, 
Alys, I mean I have my suspicions of anny 
long-haired individules o’ the male sex. Let 
a girl have long hair, an’ a man have short 
hair, says I. That’s sinse, and anny other 
way is nonsinse.” 

But Do-re’s hair isn’t long like yours 
and mine,” protested Alys, it’s only just 
a little long, ’cause he can’t help it, it grows 
that way, you know.” 

His brains are that way, darlin’, an’ he 
can’t help it. Don’t thrust him. Indade I 
could tell you a story about a long-haired 
chap that ’ud make ye bust yer sides,” and 
Nora followed this remark by a peal of 
laughter. 

A fairy story about a long-haired 
giant? Oh, goody! do tell me! ” 

Indade it’s no fairy story, but the plain 


60 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


troot. It was whin I first came over from 
the ould counthry, an’ terrible green I was 
to be sure, an’ I was livin’ out wid a long- 
haired chap that used ter kape bugs in 
bottles, an’ little creathures wid fishy eyes 
that fairly med me crawl ter look at thim. 

He was a professor, or some unholy oc- 
cypation like that, an’ he was always for- 
gettin’ his hat, or his specks, or his coat; 
shure ’tis a wonder he ever went out wid 
anny clothes on at all, at all! An’ one day 
the cook was away, an’ I went to him and 
axed him what soup ud he have for his din- 
ner, an’ he looked at me queer like an’ said, 
^ Turtle, turtle.’ ^ Merciful Heav’n,’ says I 
ter myself, ‘ ye ould heathen,’ and I went 
off trimblin’, ‘ but, if it’s got to be done,’ 
sez I, ^ the sooner the better,’ an’ I grabbed 
a big cleaver an’ I opened the dure where all 
the bugs and frogs and creathures were, 
an’, going over to a big glass case filled wid 
thim, I dumped it over on the floor, raised 
the cleaver, an’ was just going to take off 
the ligs o’ thim whin the ould heathen let 
a squeal at the door. 

‘ Woman,’ he said, an’ I’ll never forgit 


THE ETHICS OF HAIR 61 

the looks o’ him, ‘ what do ye mean by such 
vandalism? ’ 

‘‘ ^ Vandalism, d’ye call it? ’ sez 1. 
^ Shure, then, I call it mortal sin, an’ I’ll 
not work for the likes o’ ye, ye long-haired 
monster,’ an’ wid that I jumped over the 
frogs an’ ran like a wild cat outer the house 
—but come now, Alys, ye’re all ready, an’ 
yer look as swate as a rose on the bush, and 
mind what I’m tellin’ yer, the more hair the 
less common sinse.” 


CHAPTER Vn 

ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

O NE rainy day, Alys put her dolls to 
bed and then walked into the 
kitchen, to find Nora sitting at the 
table with pen and ink, her arms spread out 
like great wings. 

Are you writing a letter, Nora? ’’ asked 
Alys, much interested in what seemed to be 
a most uncommon task in that busy little 
room. 

Yes, darlin’, an’ I want you to run 
away till I have it all written.” 

Why, Nora? ” asked the inquisitive 
little intruder. 

Because it’s hard enough to write whin 
I’m by me-self ; but, whin anny one else is 
nigh, it’s like diggin’ for pertaters whin 
there’s ne’er a wan there, so run away wid 
yerself.” 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


63 


Won’t you please tell me who you are 
writing to, Nora? ” 

‘‘ Just a line to Tim, that’s all.” 

But what are you writing to Tim 
for? ” 

For the fun o’ it afterward, to be sure; 
an’, now, g’out, like a good girl, and lave 
me alone for a few minutes.” 

Nora, has Tim a Straddle various? ” 

He has not!— when Tim has on his Sun- 
day clothes he steps out like a dook.” 

But, Nora, Ho-re told me yesterday that 
my papa — ” 

Alys,” cried Nora, throwing down the 
pen, if yer don’t go away I can’t write 
another word, an’ I’ll not take yer to the 
park whin it stops rainin’, now there! ” 

Oh, Nora, please let me stay here a little 
minute. I’ll be just as still — ” 

No, you must go away an’ play by yer- 
self.” 

But I’m so tired all alone by myself 
with no one to talk to or play with. Can’t 
I just look at you while you are wri- 
ting? ” 

I’m too busy, Alys.” 


64 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


You’re busy, and papa’s busy, and 
Do-re’s busy, and I’m AJys-all-alone. Oh, 
dear! I wish I had a mother like all those 
little girls I see in the park. My mother 
wouldn’t be too busy; I’m sure she’d let 
me stay with her all the time,— wouldn’t 
she? ” 

‘‘ You poor little darlin’,” cried Nora, be- 
ginning to relent. 

‘‘ Oh, Nora, see! ” cried Alys, pointing to 
a bunch of keys hanging from a small hook, 

Oh, Nora, give me all those keys and I’ll 
go.” 

Here, darlin’! take them an’ run away 
wid yer,” said Nora, placing the keys in 
Alys’s hand. 

Oh, Nora, I’ll play Bluebeard! Now, 
you tell me I may go into every room but 
one.” 

Well, then, you can go into every room 
but one, an’ don’t yer go in that! Now 
run,— there’s a darlin’.” 

The child bounded from the room, dan- 
gling the bunch of keys at her side. First 
she tried them in the key-hole of her Castle, 
and the room adjoining. 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


65 


Suddenly a bright thought flashed into 
Alys’s head. 

I’ll try the little room that’s always 
locked! I’ll be just like Bluebeard! I’ll see 
the beautiful picture again! ” 

She ran to the door of the little room, 
paused for a second and said: 

You may open every door and go into 
every room but this one; ” so saying she 
began to try all the keys, until at last she 
found one that turned the lock. 

Ah! ” said Alys, opening the door and 
peering in, I feel just like Bluebeard’s 
wife.” 

The picture was covered by a dark cur- 
tain which she drew aside. 

It seemed to the child that the beautiful 
Tvoman smiled upon her the moment the 
curtain was drawn back. 

Alys stood so near that she could touch 
the painted folds of the misty blue dress, 
and, looking up, she beheld the eyes fast- 
ened upon her. 

She stepped away a few paces, then 
walked back and forth to the comers of the 
room, but the eyes followed her every step. 


66 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


She went to the picture and touched it 
again, loath to believe it was only painted 
when those wonderful eyes seemed so 
real. 

Oh, you are beautiful! ’’ cried Alys, 
and you smile as if you knew me very 
well! Do you know that I am little Alys- 
all-alone? — Yes, you do, you lovely lady! 
And you live in a beautiful world where 
there are soft clouds, and white flowers, and 
you came down from a great dark castle to 
see me because I’m Alys-all-alone, and have 
no mother. Have you a little girl like me 
in your great dark castle? No? I’m so 
sorry,— no, I think I’m glad, because now 
I can be your own little girl, and you can be 
my own mother. 

I think it is beautiful to say ‘ mamma,’ 
but it is even more bee-ootiful to say 
‘ mother.’ 

Mother! mother! mother! isn’t it beau- 
tiful to say ‘ mother ’ and you are going to 
be my own truly mother, aren’t you? Yes, 
you are— you are such a beautiful, be-ooti- 
ful lady. 

‘‘ Mother, may I go to see a little girl 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 67 

to-day and play? Some one who has a 
mother just like mine, but not so beautiful, 
not nearly so beautiful as you, mother. 

‘‘You are my mother, aren’t you, and I 
am your own little Alys-girl. Oh, mother, 
you and I must go some day to see the 
ducks. 

“ ‘ Alys, dear, would you like to go with 
me to see the ducks to-day? ’ ‘ Oh, yes, 
mother, I would like to go.’ Doesn’t that 
sound pretty, mother? Just like real. 
Mother, will you please talk to me and 
tell me a story? Some day you’ll tell 
me one, won’t you? And then I shall 
not be Alys-all-alone. Oh, I shall be so 
happy! ” 

Alys was so fascinated by this new game 
of “ making believe ” the beautiful picture 
lady was her mother, that she played it for 
a long time, and left the room reluctantly 
when Nora called her to supper. 

But the opening of the closed room that 
day marked a new era in Alys’s young life. 
Whenever she grew tired of her dolls and 
toys, when everybody was so busy that no 
one noticed her at all, when life seemed 


68 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


rather lonely for one little girl, she stole 
softly into the closed room, shut the door 
against all intrusion, and played with the 
beautiful picture mother.’’ 


CHAPTER Vin 

THE BIGGEST DOLL PARTY IN THE WORLD 

O NE pleasant afternoon Alys took 
Nora’s hand and together they 
wended their way to the park, 
where the child soon became deeply inter- 
ested watching the procession of gay equi- 
pages that rolled along the great driveway. 

Oh! see that doll,” cried Alys, at sight 
of a beautiful carriage in which a small girl 
sat, holding a magnificent doll in her arms. 

Alys waved her hand to the little stranger 
until the carriage was out of sight, and then 
turned reluctantly to Nora. 

Oh! I wish I had a doll like that! ” 
You’ve got a very good doll, darlin’, an’* 
two o’ thim in the bargain. Sure, there’s 
many a little girl has ne’er a one at all, an’ 
’ud give her eyes for one o’ youm.” 

Do you mean that there are little girls 
who haven’t any doll, Nora? ” 

69 


70 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Indade I do, an’ what’s more, they 
never will have.” 

Why? ” asked Alys in a most surprised 
tone. 

<< Why? Because there’s no one in the 
world that ud give them one, I suppose. 
The rich have lots o’ dolls, but the poor have 
nary a one. Look at that little bundle o’ 
rags,” cried Nora, pointing a short distance 
away, look at the doll she’s got.” 

Alys turned to see two little waifs of the 
street, and one of them, barefooted and hat- 
less, a very wisp of a child, held close to her 
chin a bundle of old cloth, twisted and tied 
at one end with a faded red ribbon. 

Oh! ” cried Alys, on a sudden im- 
pulse running to the spot; is that your 
doll? ” 

But the little girl looked at Alys for a 
second with wide, wistful eyes, then, dig- 
ging a forlorn toe into the earth, would 
not so much as glance upward. The older 
child was not shy, however, and in a very 
few minutes, with many a smirk and turn 
of the head, told glibly the history of the 
‘‘doU.” 


THE BIGGEST DOLL PARTY 71 

It’s made outer her grandmother’s pet- 
ticoat, an’, my! but don’t she just love it! 
She thinks it’s real, she does, an’ one day, 
when Tommy Ryan gev it to a dawg to 
shake, she cried somethin’ terrible, she did. 
Her name is Mamie Carr; she lives wid her 
grandmother.” 

Has your dolly got a name? ” asked 
Alys. 

No, it ain’t got a name,” answered the 
older girl; but she talks to it when no 
one’s round, and takes it to bed with her 
every night.” 

Alys smiled at the little mother ” until 
Nora pulled her hand to come along, and 
even then she stood trying to make friends 
with the shy, sensitive little soul that 
shrunk behind those wistful eyes. 

You dear little thing, I’m going to kiss 
you,” cried Alys on a sudden impulse, be- 
fore Nora could take her away with fright- 
ened haste. 

Heavens, Alys! what ud your father 
say if he see you kissin’ a little rag-muffin 
like that.” 

I think he’d kiss her, too, Nora, she’s 


72 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


such a dear, with her grandmother’s petti- 
coat doll.” 

Alys talked about it all the way home, 
and, the next time Do-re came into the Cas- 
tle of Sunshine and Cheer, told him all 
about it. And I’ve been thinking. Do-re, 
how nice it would be if we were sisters, 
because she hasn’t any brothers or sisters, 
you know.” 

But you are sisters,” answered Do-re. 

When Alys said that she did not see how 
this could be, he told her that all little girls, 
the rich and the poor, are sisters, because 
the same Heavenly Father made them all, 
and watches over them and loves them. 

Those two little waifs you saw, Alys, 
are your little sisters of the poor. The 
others— who have all the dolls they want 
and for whom everything is bright and 
beautiful— we might call the little sisters of 
the rich.” 

Are you quite sure my little sisters of 
the rich have all the dolls and beautiful 
things they want? ” questioned Alys, with 
suppressed excitement. 

Well— er, not quite all; there never 


THE BIGGEST DOLL PARTY 73 

was a little girl who had all the dolls she 
wanted. I reckon she could find a place for 
one more, but they have a great many 
dolls.” 

Alys fell into a brown study from which 
she emerged a moment later radiant. 

Oh, IVe thought of the loveliest plan. 
Do-re! Let’s ask my little sisters of the 
rich to give my little sisters of the poor a 
nice doll.” 

“ Why! Alys! what a wonderful little 
head you have to plan such a big scheme, 
and it’s a good one, too. Every little girl 
ought to have a doll, that’s certain; why! 
come to think of it, it’s almost as necessary 
as bread and butter, isn’t it? ” 

Yes, it is, and if every little sister who 
had many dolls would spare one to a little 
girl who didn’t have any, what a lot of 
sunshine and good cheer that would make,” 
said Alys, with such an old, old-fashioned 
expression on her fair little face that Do-re 
laughed outright. 

This is the very place to start it,” he 
cried, with enthusiasm; ‘‘ get me pencil and 
paper and we’ll get out the invitations.” 


74 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


Invitations for what? asked Alys, as 
she ran to get the writing material for her 
partner. 

For the Biggest DoU Party in the 
World, said Do-re, sitting cross-legged on 
the floor. 

‘‘ Now, Alys, you tell me what to say. 
I’ll write down just what you think would 
be the best way to invite your little sisters.” 

She was very quiet for a moment, then, 
raising a thoughtful face, said slowly,— 

My dear Little Sisters of the Rich, who 
have many dolls, please come to the biggest 
doll party in the world with all the dolls 
you can spare to give away ^ for keeps ’ to 
my little sisters of the poor. 

Tour loving Alys. 

P. S. Do-re says, any little girl who 
has two dolls is rich, and any little girl who 
hasn’t one doll is poor.” 

Now that’s one invitation,” said Do-re; 

what shall I say to the others? ” * 


My dear Little Sisters of the Poor ” 


THE BIGGEST DOLL PARTY 75 

(dictated Alys), who have no dolls, please 
come to my doll party and get a lovely doll 
from my Little Sisters of the Rich, and, if 
you have, a doll made from your grand- 
mother’s petticoat, be sure to come and get 
a truly doll. 

Your loving Alys.” 

That sounds be-ootiful,” said Alys, 
when Do-re had read them aloud. Now 
I wonder what I ought to do next? ” 

At this point Do-re was called by the 
musician, and our little sunshine-maker 
had to postpone her interesting plans until 
he called again. 

In the meantime she went about the 
house in very joyful spirits. She had often 
called herself Alys-all-alone,” because 
she had no brothers or sisters, and no dear 
mamma to whom she could tell her childish 
plans, but, since Do-re had spoken about 
her little sisters of the rich and the poor, 
Alys felt that she belonged to a large family 
and quite forgot that she was Alys-all- 
alone.” / 

The next time Do-re knocked on the door 


76 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

of the Castle of Sunshine and Cheer, she 
was so full of the big doll party that she 
could hardly wait until he got. fairly inside, 
to talk about it. 

‘‘We forgot just one thing,’’ said Alys. 
“ In our invitations you never told them 
where the party was to be.” 

“ Where do you think we ought to have 
it? ” asked Do-re. 

“ Why, right here, of course,” said Alys, 
“ I want to have it right here in the Cas- 
tle.” 

“ Princess Alys commands and I obey,” 
said Prince Do-re, then he stood for a mo- 
ment in deep thought. 

“ It would be nice to have them all the 
same day, wouldn’t it, Alys? But we 
couldn’t do that for the best reason in the 
world. This place isn’t big enough to hold 
them— at least I hope it isn’t. Now, I’ll tell 
you what we’ll have to do. We’ll have two 
parties. The first will be for the Little Sis- 
ters of the Rich, who are going to bring the 
dolls, and the very next day w6’ll invite all 
the Little Sisters of the Poor, who are going 
to get the dolls.” 


THE BIGGEST DOLL PARTY 77 

Goody! cried Alys, I think two par- 
ties will be be-ootiful.’^ 

Hold on! Wait a moment! ’’ cried 
Do-re, puzzling out the plan in his head, 
‘‘ IVe thought better — or worse, if you say 
so — of the whole thing. Don’t you see, we 
would need a great wide place, a hall or 
something of that sort, if they responded 
liberally. Beside, I quite forgot about your 
father; it might disturb him, you know. We 
can’t have them come here, so now I’ll tell 
you the best way out of it.” 

But I don’t want to get out of it,” 
pouted Alys, tears starting in her blue eyes 
at the thought of such a beautiful plan slip- 
ping away. 

Of course you don’t. I mean I’ll show 
you a better way to have your party. We’ll 
sign your name and address to the invita- 
tions, inviting the Little Sisters of the Rich 
to send their donations of dolls here. We 
will ask the Little Sisters of the Poor to 
send us their names and addresses. Then, 
my dear, they needn’t come here at all, and 
between ns we’ll send out the dolls. Perhaps 
I could take some in person. Now, don’t 


78 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


you see that is the best way, and it still re- 
mains the biggest doll party I ever heard 
of, and any little girl ought to be happy to 
be invited.” 

Ye-es, I suppose it is the best way,” 
admitted Alys, reluctantly, and visions of 
beautiful children presenting beautiful 
dolls to barefooted waifs of the street, 
while she herself flitted about, the little 
Lady Bountiful, began to fade into the 
background of Alys’s bright fancy. 

And, Alys! IVe thought of something 
that will make matters even smoother! I 
have a friend, a great, big friend who owns 
a great big paper, and who likes to hear 
about schemes that are helpful in any way. 
Now, my dear child. I’ll go straightway to 
see him and perhaps he’ll print your invi- 
tations in his paper, so that all who run may 
read, and all who read may run right home 
and accept the invitations. How is that, 
Alys? ” 

Be-ootiful.” 


CHAPTER IX 

DOLLS WANTED 

A PEW days after Do-re and Alys had 
planned the doll party, the follow- 
ing notice, in large type, appeared 
in one of the big daily newspapers:— 

DOLLS WANTED 

FOR THE 

BIGGEST DOLL PARTY IN THE WORLD 

AND 

EVERY LITTLE GIRL IS INVITED. 

Then followed two invitations, one to the 
Little Sisters of the Rich and the other to 
the Little Sisters of the Poor. These were 
signed with Alys’s full name and address. 

Do-re brought the newspaper to the Cas- 
tle of Sunshine and read aloud the attract- 
ive notice. Alys clapped her hands and 
danced around the room for pure joy when 
he had finished. 


79 


80 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Oh, I^m so happy, Do-re. Think of all 
the dear little sisters who will read that 
beautiful, be-ootiful invitation to my party. 
Oh, I wish it was going to be to-day, right 
away, now! ’’ 

Hold in a little. Partner,’’ cautioned 
Do-re; don’t let your enthusiasm run 
away with you.” 

I told Isabella all about it,” prattled 
Alys. She’s very much interested.” 

‘‘ Who is Isabella? ” asked Do-re, drop- 
ping into the rocking chair. 

Why, I thought you knew. Do-re! 
She’s my oldest child; there she is now,” 
cried Alys, pointing to a chair on which 
was a doll in the last stages of dilapidation. 

Ah, Isabella, come to my arms,” said 
Do-re, reaching for the doll. 

Perhaps she’s sleepy,” said Alys, ‘‘ she 
plays so hard sometimes she gets very 
tired.” 

Does she ever play football, Alys? ” 

She plays football when I’m out walk- 
ing wuth Nora,” whispered Alys, looking at 
Isabella as if she might hear. 

What happened to her hair, Alys? ” 


DOLLS WANTED 


81 


I was combing it one day and it fell off. 
I guess she had scarlet fever like Tim’s 
little sister that Nora told me about. I was 
going to ask papa to paste on her lovely 
golden hair, too, but Nora was cross one 
day and threw it down the cellar.” 

Too bad,” sighed Do-re, and, rocking 
the doll gently in his arms he sang an im- 
promptu lullaby:— 

Hush, little dolly, dear, close your eye. 
Mamma is rocking and sings: 

All the world’s dreaming of dollies and things 
And Christmas and Fourth of July. 

I wish you had two eyes, little doll, dear. 

But I love you just the same. 

And one little leg is only a peg. 

My darling pet is lame. 

Your golden hair, that was so fair. 

Is hanging down the cellar; 

But never fear, my grandpa dear 
Is just a bald old ^ fellar.’ 

Good-night, my darling, pleasant dreams, 

I must put you to bed. 

I guess my new child needs me more, 

’Cause she has lost her head.” 

That was a perfectly be-ootiful song, 
Do-re, and it’s all true because my Lizzie 


82 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Lou does lose her head, sometimes. It^s 
loose and falls off, you know; but I wish 
you would sing another. I love jingles. 

Then you like Jingle-Jack,’’ declared 
Do-re. 

Jingle- Jack,” repeated Alys, who is 
he? ” 

He’s a son of Mother G-oose. Santa 
Claus is his great-uncle.” 

Oh, goody, tell me some more about 
him.” 

Jingle-Jack 
Has a pack 
On his back 
Full of Rhymes, 0 ! 

Always singing 
Always bringing 
Jolly times, O.’^ 

But what does he do all day? ” asked 
Alys. 


Jingle-Jack 
Travels far 
In his car 
O’er the earth, 0 ! 
Knows no laws 
But Santa Claus, 
King of mirth, O.” 


DOLLS WANTED 83 

And I never heard of him until to- 
day/’ observed the little girl. 

That was an oversight on my part, 
Alys; but I’ll tell you what I’ll do. When 
this big doll party is over you’ll hear more 
of Jingle-Jack. Would you like to? ” 

<< Very much. That Would be just be-ooti- 
ful.” 

‘‘ Now, I must go home, Alys; but I shall 
be on hand for the Biggest Doll Party in 
the World.” 


CHAPTER X 

THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 


ETTERS. Letters. Letters. Alys 



took a basket of them the day after 


the invitations to her party had been 
printed in the big newspaper. She sat 
down on the floor of the Castle of Sunshine, 
and arranged them in small piles, While 
awaiting the arrival of Do-re. In a short 
time he appeared in the doorway looking 
in open-eyed amazement at the sight of 


them. 


My word! What a heap of letters, 
Alys. I didn’t know that there were so 
many little sisters in need of dolls. We’ll 
have our hands full, Partner.” 

Ahem,” coughed Alys, this is such a 
busy day! But, here, take one and read it 
quickly, please. Perhaps it’s from a dear 
little Sister of the Rich who wants to give 
away a barrel of dolls.” 


84 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 85 

Do-re opened the letter that Alys had 
taken from the pile and read as follows:— 

Dear Alys:— Now if it was anything 
else but dolls I would help you, honest I 
would; but do you think I could give away 
my Susan Ida, or Dinah or beauteous Molly 
Bawn? I guess not. I think it is dreadful 
of you to ask me. Susan Ida is a perfec’ 
beauty. Her golding hair is hanging by a 
thread and she sleeps with one eye open 
^cause it can not roll, but I love her dearly 
and some day I will fix her. Only last week 
Dinah got a new polka-spot dress so I shall 
not give her away; and Molly Bawn has 
blue hair and black eyes parted right in the 
middle, but she caught the measles from me 
and I have to take care of her. My papa 
does not approve of your plan, either. He 
said a great deal against it. Please do not 
sepperate a mother from her children. 

This is all from 

Hester.” 

Oh, I think that letter is saucy, I do,” 
declared Alys. 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


8G 

I feel like a monster,” declared Do-re, 
with a deep sigh, ‘‘ let’s try another. 

‘‘ Dearest Alys ” (so ran the second let- 
ter):— I have lots of dolls so I will send 
you J essop. He is a clown dressed in blue 
and red with rings on his cap; but he fell 
into a pail of water once and was drownded. 
He’s nice but he’s shrunk. 

Yours forever 

Lilly.” 

Hm, the stingy thing! Who cares for 
her old clown doll? I hope number three is 
different; read it, please.” 

Do-re opened the third letter and read:— 

Brierwood. 

Dear Alys:— My father is sending you 
to-day five pretty dolls by express to give 
to five of my little sisters. 

Two of the dolls were my very own, 
and the other three he bought, and we think 
it was so sweet of you to invite me to your 
doll party. 

Your loving little Sister, 

Dorothy Clover.” 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 87 

Oh, what a dear! ’’ cried Alys, kissing 
the letter. ‘‘Five dolls! Isn't that just 
splendid! " She opened the fourth letter 
and passed it to Do-re with suppressed ex- 
citement. 

Dear Friend:— I want to say that my 
father will repair all those dolls what you 
get for cent apiece, or will buy the whole 
bunch for nice tin pans, or lovely rug. 

Your true friend, 

Rachel Kobe." 

There, Alys, is a business proposition 
pure and simple." 

It sounds queer; you’ll have to tell me. 
Do-re, just what Rachel means, when we 
have more time." She opened another let- 
ter and passed it to him. 

Dear Alys:— Oh, please send me a real 
truly doll. I want a lovely, big, wax doll, 
with golden hair and a blue silk dress. I 
never had a doll all my own, and I would 
love it and take good care of it. My mother 
is dead, and Mrs. Pollup is keeping house 


88 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

for us. My father is a night-watchman and 
is away all night, and Mrs. Pollup goes out 
and I am all alone. I have to mind the 
house, but I used to make believe the chairs 
were lovely ladies, and they talked to me, 
and once I put sheets and quilts around 
them to pertend they were all dressed up, 
and I made dolls out of clothes-pins, but I 
fell asleep and Mrs. Pollup was mad when 
she came in, and hit me, and now she locks 
up all the things in one room, before she 
goes out, and I sit on the floor, and some- 
times it is so lonesome I might cry if I did 
not shut my eyes awful tight, because it is 
not brave to cry. My mother used to tell me 
not to cry when she was sick, and my father 
never came home; but if I had a big wax 
doll I would never cry again. Oh, please 
send it at once. I would like a large one, 
and send it soon. With clothes on it. Could 
you send it to-day? I will undress it every 
night and put it to bed. Please send it 
right away, if you can, to 

Lizzie Nichols.’’ 

A tear welled up in Alys’s blue eyes, and 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 89 


grew so big, before Do-re bad finished the 
letter, that it made her black lashes wet, 
and she saw everything through a mist. 

Poor little girl, minding the house all 
alone. Well, Lizzie shall have just what 
she wants if we can possibly give it to her,’’ 
and, so saying. Do-re arose. I must go 
now, Alys, to take my lesson, but I’ll come 
in again and we’ll finish the letters.” 

In the meantime many boxes arrived, 
and upon opening them Alys found all sorts 
and conditions of dolls. 

** Great dolls and tiny dolls, 

Wax, rag and chiny dolls; 

Some in rags, some in tags, and 
Some in velvet gowns.^^ 

‘‘ Before I touch these dolls I’ll put away 
all the letters,” said Alys to herself, be- 
cause Do-re will want them to see where 
the little girls live.” When this was done 
she started to arrange the dolls. 

Goody,” cried the child, this is only 
the first day, and look at them! My little 
Sisters of the Rich are good. Oh, it is just 
lovely to be rich and good.” 


90 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


The (lolls were taken from the boxes and 
placed side by side on the sofa, Alys stand- 
ing oH now and then to admire the group. 
Others were put on chairs and a few seated 
on the floor with their doll backs against 
the wall, and all the time the little Lady of 
the Castle talked to them as if they under- 
stood every word she said. 

You dear, darling, pet, lammy lamb,’^ 
cried Alys, as she opened a box to find, not 
a doll, but a great woolly lamb with a chain 
of bells around his neck that tinkled in the 
prettiest way when you pulled the tail. 

I’d like to keep you for my very own, but 
I have a monkey on a stick, and so I shall 
give you to some poor, dear, little girl who 
has no woolly lamb.” 

Having disposed of the lamb to advan- 
tage, which is to say that he was given a 
conspicuous place on the mantelpiece, Alys 
proceeded to open a very large box. Inside 
was a card on which was written From 
Dorothy Clover.” 

Oh-h-h, you beauty! ” cried Alys, as 
she drew forth a great wax doll with golden 
hair dressed in blue silk. You sweet. 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 91 

be-ootiful, darlingest dear in the world. 
You are going to make some little girl 
happy, aren’t you? I’d like to keep you for 
my own! What’s that you say? You want 
to stay here with me, and let me be your 
own mamma? You dear. I’ll kiss you for 
your new mamma and I’ll put you right 
beside the woolly lamb. You are too be- 
ootiful to sit against the waU. And here’s 
a dear, little, sweet, little Dutch doll with 
a white cap and funny shoes,” cried Alys, 
opening another package. You little 
Dutchy pet. I’d like to keep you here for 
my dolly’s maid. You’re so neat and 
tidy. Go and dust that corner, you sweet 
little Dutch Nora, and then sit down 
and rest and look at all the other dusty 
corners.” 

Alys went on with her task of taking the 
dolls out of the boxes until the last box was 
opened. It contained a quaint little Japa- 
nese doll that drew forth her warmest 
praise. 

Suddenly there was a knock at the door 
and the child ran to open it. There stood 
a girl a few years older than Alys, whose 


92 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


small face was half hidden by an old-fash- 
ioned bonnet. 

How do you do, come right in,’’ said 
Alys, beaming on her little visitor. 

The girl did not return the greeting as 
she stepped into the room. She did not 
mean to be rude, not at all. It was simply 
that her little soul was too full for utter- 
ance.” She could only stand there, gazing 
at the wonderful display of dolls, until all 
at once her eyes fell upon the golden-haired 
beauty on the mantelpiece, dressed in blue 
silk. 

“ Oh-h-h,” she gasped, and then her 
round eyes met those of Alys and she 
grinned such a broad, happy child’s grin 
that it seemed to be the biggest thing in 
that small room. Is she mine? ” breathed 
the girl. 

What is your name, please? ” ques- 
tioned Alys. 

My name is Lizzie Nichols, what wrote 
you a letter for a doll with blue silk hair, 
and a golden dress, don’t you ’member? I 
wanted clothes on it, you know, to undress 
every night, an’ put to bed, an’ I want it 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 93 

awful, please, an’ Mrs. Pollup sent me out 
for a loaf of bread, and I got it an’ ran all 
the way here, an’ I asked a policeman 
where the street and number was, an’ I 
want my doll, please, an’ I’m going home 
now with my bread, and if Mrs. Pollup 
knew I came here she might be mad, an’ 
I must run home now and I want the doll, 
an’ I’ll take awful good care of it, an’ I 
want it, please, an’, an’ I just love a doll 
with blue hair and gold eyes, an’ please 
give it to me.” 

Lizzie stopped for breath while Alys ran 
to the mantel and took down the beautiful 
doll. 

There, Lizzie, take her. You talk so fast 
I most lost my breath. Now don’t lose 
your sweet, new dolly, will you? Oh, I’m 
so glad you have her for your own.” 

Lizzie clasped the doll in one arm and the 
loaf of bread in the other, but the bread 
slipped out of the paper and rolled to the 
floor. Alys got on her knees and tried to 
put it back in the package because Lizzie 
Nichols simply could not let that precious 
doll out of her arms long enough to help. 


94 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


‘‘ Please hurry,” urged Lizzie, ‘‘I’ve got 
to run home with my doll, an’ thank you 
ever so much. I love her. She’s the beau- 
tifullest doll in the whole world. Gimme 
the bread. I’ve got to run all the way, 
thanks.” 

Lizzie gained the door with one stride 
and was gone. Alys unconsciously gave a 
little sigh of relief. 

“ Gracious, what a talky little girl Lizzie 
is; but she’s just brimful happy because she 
has a doll! Oh, dear, I wish Do-re would 
come. I want to tell him all about it.” 

In the midst of Alys’s prattle some one 
rattled the door knob and the next instant 
the door was opened to admit two little 
waifs of the street. One was a wide-eyed, 
wistful little girl, at sight of whom Alys 
clapped her hands and cried, 

“ Oh, I know you, you’re the little 
grandmother ’s-petticoat-girl that I saw in 
the park one day. You’re one of my little 
Sisters and your name is Mamie Carr, isn’t 
it?” 

The child nodded affirmatively, smiling 
first at Alys and then at the beautiful dolls. 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 95 

And what is your name? ’’ asked Alys, 
turning to the freckled-faced mite of a boy 
who accompanied Mamie Carr. 

Tommy Ryan.’’ 

'' Oh, you’re the boy — ” Alys began but 
broke off abruptly. She was going to add 
that gave Mamie’s petticoat-doll to a dog 
to shake,” w^hen it flashed upon her that it 
would not be polite to remind him of any- 
thing so naughty. I’m real glad you 
came. Tommy. Would you like a doll child 
too, and be a happy papa? ” 

Naw,” growled Tommy in disgust. 
I don’ want no dolls. D’ye tink I’m a goil? 
I on’y came wid Mamie ’cause she told me 
you was a rich kid an’ would gimme a dime 
for showin’ her de way.” 

I can’t give you a dime because I 
haven’t one. I’ll give you four pennies 
that rolled out of my bank yesterday. Here 
they are,” said Alys, passing the money to 
Tommy Ryan. 

Tanks,” returned Tommy, dropping 
the money into the pocket of his ragged 
coat. 

And now, Mamie,” said Alys, turning 


96 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

to the shy little girl, I want you to take 
your choice of these dolls. Look them all 
over and pick out the one you love the 
best.’’ 

But Mamie seemed rooted to the spot. 
She stood there apparently lost in admira- 
tion of the beautiful dolls. 

Take my hand, dear; I’ll walk with 
you around the Castle. Would you like to 
have me? ” asked Alys. 

For answer Mamie put her little hand in 
the friendly one that was held out to her 
and the two little girls proceeded at once 
to the doll-filled sofa. 

Here’s a beautiful doll,” said Alys, 
with the air of a shop-keeper showing his 
wares. “ It can open and shut its eyes and 
if you punch it gently in the stomach it 
will say ^ mamma.’ ” 

Gimme a punch, will yer? ” asked 
Tommy, who had followed them, and was 
deeply interested. 

Don’t punch too hard, please,” cau- 
tioned Alys, as Tommy doubled up a fist 
and proceeded to hit the doll a blow that 
made Mamie jump. 





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LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 97 

Oh, you hurt her, you did,’’ cried 
Mamie Carr, who had found her voice at 
last, and, taking the doll tenderly in her 
arms, she pressed it close to her own little 
doll-hungry breast. 

Do you like that one? ” asked Alys. 
Mamie could only nod her head and hold 
the doll closer. Then she is yours for- 
ever,” declared Alys, your little, darling 
child to play with every day, and your 
grandmother ’s-petticoat-doll will be glad 
to have such a beautiful, be-ootiful sister, 
don’t you think so. Tommy? ” 

But Tommy’s eyes had spied the woolly 
lamb. He ran to the mantelpiece and be- 
came so fascinated pulling the tail and 
hearing the bells tinkle that he never heard. 

I’ve just thought of something nice for 
Tommy,” cried Alys. He doesn’t care 
for dolls, but I’m sure he would like that 
woolly lamb, wouldn’t you. Tommy? ” 

Betcher life.” 

Then you may take it. Tommy. I’m 
so glad to have it for you, and you’ll be 
very kind to Mamie’s new doll, won’t you, 
please? If a dog or anything shaked her. 


98 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


why, her teeth would chatter and she might 
die, so please be careful, Tommy/’ 

Having thus admonished Tommy, Alys 
turned to Mamie to find her waiting pa- 
tiently at the door. Mamie Carr wanted to 
get away. It was almost too good to be 
true that the beautiful doll in her arms was 
her own, but, until she was safe at home 
in her grandmother’s little kitchen, she 
would not feel absolutely certain that it 
really was her own. 

I must be goin’ now,” said Tommy, in 
a businesslike way, stepping to the door 
with the lamb under his arm. All at once 
he turned to Alys: If dese dolls round 
here was live kids dis place would be jest 
like de orphan asylum on visitin’ day when 
dey fixes up all de kids an’ sets ’em up to 
look nice for people wot comes. I uster 
live dere onct till me uncle took me out.” 
So saying. Tommy opened the door and the 
children departed. 

Good-bye, Mamie; good-bye. Tommy,” 
called Alys, running into the hall and 
watching her two little visitors while they 
were in sight. 


LITTLi; SISTERS OF THE POOR 99 

When she entered the Castle again, 
she looked over the dolls, a happy smile on 
her bright little face. 

'' Goody, goody, goody! There’s been 
lots of cheer to-day in the Castle of Sun- 
shine. IVe made two httle sisters happy 
with a nice doll, and one little boy happy 
with a dear woolly lamb. Oh, this is a good 
place for Sunshine, but I want to tell Do-re. 
I wish he would come. And now I must 
pile up these empty boxes.” Alys started 
to work on her task, but had not accom- 
plished very much when there was a noise 
outside in the hall. The next moment the 
door opened and Do-re, a queer smile in his 
eyes, looked into the room and then over 
his shoulder at something. 

Is anything behind you? ” asked Alys, 
from the centre of a pile of boxes. 

Tubby Wright,” answered Do-re. 

Alys caught sight of a pair of bold, black 
eyes that belonged to a chubby red-faced 
girl, holding a smaller girl by the hand, 
and craning her neck to look into the 
room. 

Please come in,” said Alys to the 


100 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

black-eyed Tubby, who did not need a sec- 
ond bidding. 

Oh-0-0,’ ’ cried Alys, as a crowd of 
children all ages and sizes rushed pell-mell 
into the room. ‘‘ Oh, I thought there 
were only two. Are there many more. 
Do-re? ” 

“ There’s a crowd at the street door. I 
thought we would better get rid of this lot 
first.” 

Oh, if you please,” began Alys, turning 
to her visitors, some of you might go 
away and come another day, because there 
isn’t room to step around; but perhaps 
I’d better give you all the dolls I have 
now.” 

Alys might have continued her little 
speech, but, at the mention of the word 
dolls,” there was a stampede for the sofa, 
and Tubby Wright, after pitching head- 
first over a pile of boxes, reached it 
first. 

Now, now. Tubby,” said Do-re, wait, 
please, until Alys gives out the dolls.” 

You know,” said Alys, sweetly, I 
didn’t expect you to come here. I only 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 101 

wanted you to send me your names and 
addresses; but, now that you are here, I’ll 
give you each a nice doll.” 

Tubby’s black eyes followed Alys’s every 
move, looking around now and then at the 
other children with a glance that was a 
silent challenge. 

Alys held forth a doll, which was imme- 
diately confiscated by Tubby, but, when 
that same chubby person sprang for the 
second doll, our little Lady Bountiful de- 
murred and put it over her head. 

You can’t have two, you know,” cried 
Alys. 

<< For my sister here,” said Tubby, 
snatching it first and explaining afterward. 
Then more dolls were given away imtil 
Alys felt dizzy from the shuf3e of hands 
that surrounded her. 

Suddenly there was a squeal that made 
Alys drop the dolls and stand on a box. 
A big girl in a comer was holding a doll at 
arm’s length while Tubby made desperate 
efforts to get it. Alys called on Do-re to 
save the girl’s doll from Tubby, while she, 
herself, stumbled toward Tubby’s small 


102 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


sister, who had thrown herself on a pile of 
dolls near the door. 

She’s layin’ on mine, an’ mine, an’ 
mine,” shouted half a dozen waifs, trying 
to pull her off. 

Get off those dolls, you naughty girl!” 
began Alys indignantly; but stopped sud- 
denly at a strange sight. 

Before her very eyes a girl with thick 
red curls was stuffing dolls into her blouse 
as fast as her two little hands could put 
them there. 

You mustn’t do that, that’s not fair,” 
cried Alys, stop it at once or — ” 

A cry of rage interrupted Alys’s words, 
and she turned to see Tubby Wright and 
another chubby maid pulling each other’s 
hair. At this sight Alys gave a little 
scream. Then followed a wild scramble in 
which children and dolls and boxes were all 
mixed up together. 

‘‘ Help! ” cried Alys, almost distracted 
at the melee. Where, oh, where is Do-re? 
Help, help, Do-re! ” 

That instant the door opened and Nora, 
broom in hand, appeared. With one scorn- 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 103 

ful sweep of eye and lip she took in the 
situation. Raising the broom threateningly 
over her head, and her voice above the din, 
Nora rushed madly upon the intruders. 

G^out, g’out here, ye terriers — g’out 
before I break the broom on yer brazen 
backs! ” 

The invading army retreated to the door, 
and rushed and scurried to get away with 
their spoils, leaving Nora panting with vic- 
tory on the scene of the late struggle. 

Alys, in tears, dropped to the floor, too 
weary to speak. Do-re had disappeared. 

Now, Alys, for the love o’ Hiven, who 
was them and how did they get in here? ” 
asked Nora, still panting behind the broom, 
righteous indignation oozing from every 
pore. 

They’re m-m-my sisters,” sobbed Alys, 
tears streaming down her cheeks, but I 
n-never, n-never dreamt they’d come here 
and b-oo-hoo-have so! ” 

Yer sisthers! merciful hivens, the 
child’s brains are muddled, an’ it’s no won- 
dher! There’s enough long-haired spici- 
mins around here t’ make anny one daft.” 


104 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


Suddenly Nora’s eyes flashed suspiciously. 

Yer sisthers, are they! an’ who’s been 
insultin’ the white soul o’ yer wid the re- 
marrk ? Tell me, darlin ’, who said it. ’ ’ 

Do-re said it,” replied Alys, weeping 
bitterly. 

Ha-a-a, I suspected it,” hissed Nora 
between her teeth. Is that what he tould 
yer, yer poor, motherless choild! Ye have 
no sisthers; the blay guard! ” Nora doubled 
up her flst and began to coil herself as it 
were toward Alys. ‘‘If he ever thries it 
again I’ll make a example outer him. I’ll 
tache him common sinse along wid his fid- 
dlin’. Don’t cry, darlin’. I’ll fix him. I 
must run now or me dinner’ll spile, but ax 
him for me, darlin’, if he’d like the loan of 
a bit o’ blue ribbon to tie up his bonny 
brown hair — the idjit! ” 

When Nora shut one door Do-re opened 
another, and stole into the room on tip-toe. 
His face was very red, as he vainly tried to 
brush back the thick hair. 

“ What did Nora say? Is she going to eat 
me up? ” he whispered, casting frightened 
looks toward the door, but Alys only shook 


LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 105 

her head, with a plaintive little sigh, and 
did not answer. Suddenly a great shout 
arose from the street below, and Do-re ran 
to a window and looked out. 

What is the matter? ’’ asked Alys, too 
tired to go and see for herself. 

For a moment he did not answer, and the 
child, looking up, saw him almost doubled 
in two. 

What is it, please, Do-re? ’’ 

‘‘ Fair Princess,’’ said Do-re, trying to 
control his voice, they storm thy castle; 
even now they are hurling stones and mis- 
siles at thy battlements; but, lo! as I look 
the powerful Nora Creina with mighty arm 
and uplifted broom is upon them. They 
heed her not and hurl defiance. They 
charge upon her. She is down! She rises 
in wrath and rushes upon them, and now. 
Oh, joy! a knight approaches, with blue 
coat and helmet. His brass buttons fiash 
in the sun as he rushes to the aid of Nora 
Creina. The minions scatter and fly at his 
approach. He has saved the castle! He 
has rescued Nora Creina! But what is this 
I see! She places no wreath upon his 


106 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


knightly brow; nay, rather she turns her 
back upon him. With toss of head and 
haughty mien she marches away.’^ 

Oh I ’’ cried Alys, running to the win- 
dow and looking down on the policeman. 

That’s her cousin, Malachi-on-the-force.” 


CHAPTER XI 

JINGLE -JACK 


/^TJTEN my little friendt,’’ said 
Herr Stein, the following day, as 
he came out of his apartments to 
meet Alys and Nora returning from their 
walk. 

Guten tag, Herr Stein,” returned the 
little girl. 

Ach! Alys, you get the Fraulein in 
trouble yesterday, with all the little sisters, 
nicht wahrf ” 

He laughed softly as he passed on his 
way up-stairs to her papa’s study. Al- 
most on his heels were several other mu- 
sicians who greeted Nora and Alys pleas- 
antly and went on. One, however, with a 
violoncello under his arm, lingered a mo- 
ment and complimented Alys on the fact 
that she was growing to be a big girl and 
that her papa must be very proud of her. 


108 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Alys smiled at him, although she had not 
fully understood, because he spoke in Ger- 
man. She could not walk very fast up the 
stairs and, long before the top was reached, 
the musicians were playing in the music 
room and the whole house was filled with 
beautiful melody. 

Isn’t it sweet music, Nora? ” exclaimed 
the child when they were inside the Cas- 
tle of Sunshine.” My papa’s friends,” 
she went on, are all great musicians. 
Do-re told me so; and they love to talk 
with me,” she added proudly. 

Talkin’, d’ye call it? No, no, Alys, 
that’s not talkin’, darlin’, that’s just jab- 
berin’, polite jabberin’.” 

I don’t understand,” said Alys, in a 
puzzled way. What is jabberin’? ” 

Jabberin’ is anny langwidge but the 
pure English langwidge, that’s what jab- 
berin’ is,” declared Nora. 

And are they jabberin’ when they say 
those nice things to me, Nora? ” 

They are that, Alys, and I’ve my sus- 
picions of av’ry jabberin’ wan o’ thim. 
They go into that room,” she went on 


JINGLE - JACK 


109 


warmly, wid their fiddles an’ things an’ 
they jabber away an’ they play till me head 
is bustin’, an’ av’ry two-legged wan o’ thim 
looks as if he never saw a hair-cut nor the 
price av one, glory be! ” 

Oh, Nora, my papa’s hair is beautiful, 
and he has taught me some jabberin’, too; 
he likes to have me tell him that I love him 
in German. Mein Vater, Ich Hebe dich,’^ 
That’s crool, when it sounds so swate 
in English. Ah, Alys, what would I be 
thinkin’ if my Tim tould me that, I dunno? 
Thanks be, he’s a dacint-spoken man, and 
now I must get me things off and go to 
work.” 

When Alys was alone she sat very still 
for a moment and hummed the air that the 
musicians were playing. She had heard it 
so often that she knew it very well. She 
did not know, however, that it was part of 
a beautiful S3miphony composed by her 
father. When the music ceased, there was 
a gentle tap on the door of the Castle.” 

Who knocks?” asked Alys, in the 
words of the brave heroine of a recent fairy 
story. 


110 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


It is I, Prince Do-re, 

I have something to say, 

May I come in and grin 
About yesterday?” 

<< "Wliy, Do-re, you are talking in jin- 
gles,’’ said Alys, opening the door. 

I know it, child. I cannot help it to- 
day. Jingle- Jack is at the reel.” 

Really? ” asked Alys, wondering why 
Do-re shook with laughter. Her partner 
then dropped into a favorite attitude, cross- 
legged on the floor, and recited softly: — 

“ Said Tommy Tid 
To Johnny Bid, 

‘ LePs run away forever. 

We’ll go to-day 
So far away 

That none will find us ever.’ 

So they took hands; 

For far-off lands 

They climbed the back fence over. 

They never stayed 
For man or maid. 

But reached a field of clover. 

‘‘ Said Tommy Tid 
To Johnny Bid, 


JINGLE - JACK 


111 


* Let’s sit and rest a minute/ 

And out he took 
His pocket-book, — 

There were two pennies in it. 

Then down they sat, 

And in his hat 

Did Tommy count them over, 

Until at last 
These two were fast 
Asleep amid the clover.” 

Be-ootiful. Do-re, that was a lovely 
jingle. Tell me one about a little girl, 
please.^’ 

“A little girl was sitting on the very lowest stair, 
A-combing down and braiding up her dolly’s golden 
hair. 

Her little brother Bobby was standing in his place. 
With a tub of soap and water to wash the dolly’s face. 
But, suddenly, it happened that over fell the tub. 

And Bobby ran away with it and played rub-dubby- 
dub. 

*‘Rub, rub, rub-dubby-dub. ^Come back here with my 
tub,’ 

His sister cried, but Bobby hied 
Away and out with hurried feet, 

A soldier marching down the street, 

And playing on his sister’s tub 
Rub, rub, rub, rub, rub dub-a-dub.” 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


112 

Be-ootiful/’ cried Alys, tell an- 
other/’ 

But, Alys, my dear, I did not come to 
the ^ Castle of Sunshine ’ to say jingles. I 
wanted to help out the big doll party, you 
know.” 

“ Oh, I forgot to tell you. Do-re, that 
three new dolls came this morning. I hid 
them under the sofa. I was afraid some lit- 
tle sisters might come in here again. I was 
afraid she might come,” added Alys, in a 
whisper. 

You mean Tubby Wright? ” 

Yes, I mean Tubby; she’s too, too — ” 
Strenuous,” put in Do-re. 

‘‘ Yes, she’s too strenevus; that’s just 
what is the matter,” said Alys, wisely, 
and, oh! that naughty little girl who was 
all stuffed out most as fat as Nora with 
dolls. Oh, I hope she’ll never come again! ” 
Don’t worry. Partner. The fact that 
they met Nora is enough to keep them for- 
ever from the ^ Castle of Sunshine; ’ but 
I must get to work. Let’s look over our 
waiting list to see who’ll get those three 
new dolls.” 


JINGLE - JACK 


113 


Alys ran to a box and drew forth a slip 
of paper on which were the names and ad- 
dresses copied from the letters. The first 
name on the list was Molly May, 40 
Evergreen Place, and the second name 
was Polly Day, 42 Evergreen Place.’’ 

Little neighbors,” observed Do-re, 
and I know just where they live. I think 
I’ll take their dolls in person. I can leave 
them on my way home.” 

The third name was Jennie Rosenberg, 
3 Crab-Apple Court, Chelsea,” and, as that 
was very far away. Do-re sent the third doll 
by express, enclosing a nice little note from 
Alys. 

Won’t Molly and Polly be delighted? ” 
cried Alys, as she watched Do-re doing up 
the dolls in a neat package. 

I hope they will be very happy,” said 
Do-re, and they will be, of course; why, 
just think of the good times they’ll have 
visiting each other with their dolls; what 
patter and clatter and playing house chat- 
ter; what afternoon teas they can have.” 

And going for lovely walks with their 
dollies,” observed Alys. 


114 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


‘‘ Ajid that is the best fun of all, per- 
haps,” returned Do-re, adding in his quaint 
sing-song voice:— 

“ Said Molly May, 

To Polly Day, 

* Let^s take our dolls to town. 

We’ll have them dressed 
All in their best. 

With sashes hanging down.’ 

So Molly May 
And Polly Day 
They started for the garden; 

Each had a doll 
And parasol 

As sweet as Dolly Varden. 

Said Molly May 
To Polly Day, 

* Let’s sit and rest awhile 

Here on the grass, 

And watch folks pass; 

I guess we’ve walked a mile.’ 

“ Then Molly May 
And Polly Day 
Came to a muddy puddle. 

They stopped to think. 

Right on the brink; 

They were in such a muddle. 


JINGLE - JACK 


115 


Said Molly May 
To Polly Day, 

* Oh, Vve just had a notion; 

Here’s a nice brick. 

Step on it quick 
And cross th’ Atlan-tic Ocean.’ 

And now Alys I must start for borne and 
Molly. Auf wiedersehen,^^ 


CHAPTER Xn 

A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 


ORA, have you a little reel in 



your head? ’’ asked Alys, walk- 
ing into the kitchen the next 


morning, holding her lame Isabel doll 
tightly in her arms. 

‘‘ A little reel, is it? ’’ said Nora, puzzled. 
Suddenly a light seemed to dawn upon her. 
‘‘ Indade I have, listen now,’’ and all at 
once, with a jolly too-ri-loo-riloo-riloo, li- 
liddy-o,” Nora held up her skirts and began 
to dance. Alys was so fascinated by the 
sight that she retired to a comer to give 
Nora more room. 

Up and down and around danced the 
buxom maid, with an imaginary partner. 
It grew so exciting that the child clapped 
her hands, keeping time, as it were, and 
only stopped when Nora, panting for 
breath, ended the dance with the funniest 


116 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 117 

break-down ’’ that was ever witnessed by 
a small but appreciative audience. 

How is that for a reel? ’’ asked Nora, 
mopping a very red face. 

‘‘ Oh, that isn’t the kind of a reel, Nora. 
I mean a little reel in your head with 
stories and jingles wound all around it. 
When you want to tell anybody a story you 
take it right off the reel. Do-re has a little 
reel in his head, he told me so one day.” 

He did! then that’s the thruest word 
he ever spoke, an’ now I know f ’rever chil- 
dren and fools tell the truth. A little reel, 
has he? I’m thinkin’ it do be buzzin’ 
often,” and Nora shook all over with mer- 
riment, until Alys grew a little impatient, 
because she could not understand why Nora 
was laughing. 

Will you please tell me a fairy story? 
Oh! please do tell me a story, Nora, about 
a beautiful princess.” 

I will, I will, Alys, but not to-day; me 
head sizzles at all the work I’ve got before 
me, and that’s the thruest story ye ever 
heard. Run away and play now like a good 
girrl.” 


118 ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

Alys coaxed a little while and then 
walked slowly away and stood outside the 
door of papa’s room. She did not go in 
because he was busy. Do-re had told her 
never to disturb her papa when he played 
his music and then wrote it down on paper 
and hummed it over to himself, because 
that was composing, and it was something 
very important. Do-re had also told her 
a great secret, one day. Her papa was 
writing a beautiful story in music, an 
opera,” the young man had called it. 

‘‘ And, Alys,” he whispered, it is won- 
derful! I cannot tell you more now, but 
some day you will hear of it.” 

She did not quite understand what it all 
meant. It sounded like a pretty story to 
her childish ears, but she liked to hear 
about this opera that her father was com- 
posing, and sometimes asked Do-re about 
it. 

As she stood outside the door of her 
father’s study and did not hear any com- 
posing,” she called out, Papa, I want to 
come in.” He quickly opened the door, 
sa3dng And you may come in, darling.” 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 119 

You haven’t seen me for two whole 
days, have you, papa? Oh! I wish you 
could come to the ducks, to-day; do you 
think you could for just one little min- 
ute? ” 

The musician shook his head sadly, No, 
Alys dear, I would like to go, but I cannot 
to-day because I have a great deal of work 
to do.” 

<< Were you composing a little music 
story, papa? ” asked Alys, suddenly re- 
membering what Do-re had said, because, 
if you were, perhaps I had better not stay.” 

Don’t go, darling; tell me something.” ^ 

Mein Vater, IcTi liebe dich,^^ whispered 
Alys, clasping her arms around his neck. 

Ach! mein liebling,^^ and the musician 
held her close to his heart and kissed her 
fondly. 

Oh! papa, it would be nice if we could 
go to see the ducks some day very soon 
now, wouldn’t it? Do you ever feel lone- 
some for them? ” 

Do I ever feel lonesome, little one? ” 
said the musician, half to himself. Ah! 
Alys, I wonder if I ever felt otherwise. 


120 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


There was a house, ever so long ago, Vay 
back from the road, and a happy child used 
to play there with his mother, but she went 
away one day, away off to God’s country, 
they told him, and the little child was lone- 
some, always lonesome. There’s a river 
back of that old house; the sun plays in its 
shadows; and a lonesome boy used to 
dream there of the great busy world that he 
longed to see, of the wonderful things he 
would do. He went into the big world and 
became one of its workers, and one day, 
ah! Alys, one day happiness came to him, 
happiness so great that he knew he would 
never be lonesome again; but, after all, it 
must have been only a dream, because he 
is still very lonely.” 

But he wouldn’t be lonesome if he had 
a little girl like me, would he, papa? ” 

No, no, dear, he ought not to be, and 
he won’t be, darling. Ah! Alys, some 
day, you and I will go and find that old 
house ’way back from the road, and we’ll 
dream dreams on the banks of that 
river.” 

Couldn’t we go now, papa? ” 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 121 

Not yet, Alys. We must wait until 
Fortune comes knocking at this little door, 
and tells us to be up and away wherever 
our fancy takes us, and ours will take us 
off together, away from this dreary city.’^ 
And then papa held Alys’s face between 
his hands, and gazed into her blue eyes 
without speaking for so long a time that 
she knew he was thinking so hard, so deep, 
he would never see her if she slipped down 
softly, shut the door, and went into her 
Castle of Sunshine.’^ 

A few boxes arrived that day, and Alys 
thought she would open them and take out 
the dolls. Then she went to her list of ad- 
dresses to see who ought to have one, and 
in this way help Do-re by having them 
ready when he called. 

In the midst of it all Nora opened the 
door, and showed a face wreathed in smiles. 

YouVe company, darlin’, in the parlor, 
waitin’ to see you, an’, if ever I see a rale 
lady, she’s one. Run along now an’ see 
who ’tis.” 

‘CWho can it be?” thought Alys, who 
never before had had a lady call to see her. 


122 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


She hurried to the little room that was par- 
lor, library, and sitting-room, all in one. 

When Alys entered the room, a lady, 
dressed in gray, and a little girl, all in 
white, came forward to meet her. The lady 
held out her hand and said in the sweetest 
voice, How do you do, Alys.’’ Then she 
stooped and kissed the child’s forehead, and 
the little girl in white took Alys’s hand and 
said, My name is Dorothy Clover; we sent 
you some dolls for your party, don’t you 
remember? ” 

Oh, yes,” cried Alys, yours was the 
very sweetest letter I ever read, and Do-re 
took four of the dolls to four of my little 
sisters who never had a real doll. I gave 
the prettiest one of all to a dear little girl 
that I met in the park one day, with a doll 
made out of her grandmother’s petticoat.” 

Dorothy wanted very much to see you, 
and hear all about that party,” said the 
woman, smiling down on the eager little 
face. 

Well, I still get a doll now and then 
from my little sisters of the rich,” observed 
Alys, and every time Do-re comes he 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 123 

sends them to the addresses of which I keep 
a list; sometimes he takes a doll with him 
and carries it to the house. But the first 
day of the party, that is, just after the in- 
vitations were printed, you know, it wasn’t 
very nice. It was too crowded in my ‘ Cas- 
tle ’ and — and — Nora sent them away.” 

Alys then explained the details, in full, 
of the Biggest Doll Party in the World and 
Dorothy’s mamma expressed her sympa- 
thy. 

‘‘ Dorothy is going to have a party a 
week from to-day,” said Mrs. Clover, and 
we would like very much to have you 
come.” 

Oh! ” cried Alys, putting her little 
hands together in childish glee, ‘‘ I never 
went to a real party in my life. Oh-o, I 
would just love to go.” 

Then, if your papa is willing, may we 
expect you, Alys? ” 

Oh, yes, thank you,” cried the little 
girl. I am sure papa will let me go to a 
real, truly party.” 

And bring your doll,” whispered Dor- 
othy, don’t forget it, please.” 


124 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Mrs. Clover arose and slipped a dainty 
envelope into AJys’s hand. 

Now, Dorothy,” she said, we must 
visit other little friends this morning, so 
we shall have to make this pleasant visit 
very short.” 

Then Dorothy kissed Alys, smiling and 
happy, and, bidding her be sure and 
come,” followed her mother out of the 
room, leaving our little girl in a perfect 
dream of bliss, gazing at the dainty white 
envelope. 

All at once she bounded from the room 
and rushed into the kitchen, waving the 
letter over her bright curls. Oh, Nora, 
look! see what I have! and I^m going to 
a real, truly party with my doll. Oh, Nora, 
that lovely lady is Dorothy’s mamma, and 
Dorothy sent me those five beautiful dolls, 
and I’m invited to her party. Oh, Nora, 
Nora, isn’t it lovely? Just like Cinderella! 
Perhaps there’ll be a coach made out of a 
pumpkin! Oh, Nora, I never went to a 
party before! Oh, do read this lovely let- 
ter and tell me what it is all about! Oh, oh, 
oh! I’m so happy! ” 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 125 

Hould on now, darlin’! Don’t run 
away wid yerself entoirely,” cried Nora, 
wiping her hands hastily and opening the 
little envelope. 

Shure it’s no letther at all, but a rale 
invitation— glory be! it smells like cinna- 
ment, or is it musk? I dunno. Smell o’ 
that, Alys, ain’t it lovely! ” 

Yes, yes,” panted Alys, burying her 
little nose for a second in the delicately 
scented paper, but read it, Nora. Oh, do 
please read it! ” 

Whist thin an’ listen; — 

^ Dorothy Clover requests the pleasure 
of your company, and that of your dearest 
dolly, on Wednesday afternoon, from three 
o’clock until five, in the Rose-bud Corner 
of Brierwood.’ ” 

Nora began to sing ri toodle, tidle, ta- 
dle, liddy o,” with a sweep of her skirts 
around the kitchen. 

What did I always tell yer, darlin’? 
You was made for it, an’ it’s yer own Nora 
that’ll see you go, lookin’ like the best o’ 


m ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

them, an^ if thej; was fifty there, nary one 
could look half as swate,” and Nora, on a 
sudden impulse of pride and joy, gathered 
Alys in her arms and hugged her. 

I must ask papa first, you know,’’ said 
Alys, but of course he will let me go to 
such a beautiful place.” 

Nora’s face sobered instantly. Don’t 
ax him now, darlin’, there’s wan o’ them 
long-haired moosichens jest gone in wid 
him. I don’t know what’s gettin’ into the 
masther at all, at all; but I was dustin’ in 
his room this mornin’ an’ all inner cent like 
I squeezed up in me fist some ould papers 
wid funny little ink thracks on thim, an’ 
he was that wild I had to git out, an’ two 
minutes after I heard him hummin’ a tune 
over and over and over to himself, hummin’ 
an’ playin’ all to himself. Ah! darlin’, it’s 
a queer place for the likes o’ yer, an’, if I 
didn’t know that the masther had the kind- 
est heart in the world, I’d pack up an’ get 
out, I would.” 

It must have been papa’s music,” de- 
clared Alys. Perhaps he was composing 
and you disturbed him. You must never 


A CHAPTER OF INCIDENTS 127 

disturb papa^s papers. Didn’t Do-re ever 
tell you about it? ” 

Don’t mention that live floor-mop to 
me, Alys. Wherever he goes there’ll be 
dust marks and ink thracks, an’ now, dar- 
lin’, after your father laves that Addle 
alone, an’ his dinner is on the inside o’ him, 
I’ll give you the wink; then you show him 
the invitation and tell him you’re goin’! 
Mind what I’m tellin’ yer, tell him yer 
goin’.” 

But, Nora, suppose he doesn’t come out 
to dinner? Sometimes he is so busy now he 
doesn’t leave his room at all.” 

To me sorrow I know it,” said Nora, 
with a melancholy shake of her head. 

Haven’t I cooked a meal that ud warm 
the witals of a mummy; haven’t I made wid 
me own hands a dinner that ud melt the 
chiny image of a man, an’ all along av an 
old Addle he wouldn’t come next nor nigh 
it! But, wait! He’ll be out o’ that room 
to-day if I have to arouse the whole pelice 
force t’ help me.^^ 


CHAPTER Xni 

ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 


LYS had received permission from 



her father to go to Brierwood, and 


the happy day came at last, the day 
on which she was going to attend her first 
party! 

Oh! the rapturous beating of the little 
heart, fluttering under the white dress that 
Nora was making gay with knots of ribbon, 
stopping now and again in the midst of her 
task to exclaim in admiration, Oh! you 
darlinV’ and all the while Alys’s impa- 
tient little feet could not remain a second 
in the same spot. 

Oh! do please hurry, Nora, I’m afraid 
I won’t be there in time. Oh! dear, 
wouldn’t it be dreadful if they should begin 
without me.” 

They’ll never do wan thing till you get 
there, darlin’,” declared Nora, tying back 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 129 

the pretty golden curls with a bow of rib- 
bon that matched the blue of Alys’s eyes. 

But you’re dhressed at last! ” cried 
Nora, standing off, the better to admire her 
handiwork, you look like a princess, a 
princess o’ the rial blood; but wait till I 
see what’s that.” 

Nora ran to see who had rung the bell, 
while little Alys skipped about the room, 
looking at herself in childish admiration, 
for she had never been dressed so beauti- 
fully before. 

In a few minutes Nora returned, and, 
rolling her eyes, as if words failed to ex- 
press what was in her mind, she beckoned 
to the little girl to follow her. 

Down the long flight of stairs tripped 
Alys and, on opening the street door, there 
stood a beautiful carriage, a man in livery 
waiting, who lifted her in beside Nora. 
Then he took the reins and off they started. 

Now I’m sure she’s the fairy god- 
mother,” whispered Alys, because this is 
the very coach, and it’s made from a pump- 
kin, and the mice were turned into these 
white horses! Oh! Nora! ” 


130 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


Faith, whether it’s mice or men I 
dimno, but this is what I call livin’,” mur- 
mured Nora, setthng herself back on the 
soft cushions, while the child at her side, 
with eyes shining and cheeks glowing, sat 
in a happy dream, half afraid lest the car- 
riage turn into a pumpkin, before they ar- 
rived at the fairy castle.” 

Many turned to see the pretty picture, as 
the carriage rolled through one busy street 
and, into another. Then it rattled over the 
stone pavement of a great wide avenue, 
lined with brick houses. 

In a short time the crowded streets 
gave way to fields and bushy by-roads, to 
streets lined with waving trees, and houses 
on velvety lawns, with pretty fiower 
beds. 

They were now a little way out in the 
country, and, after passing a stretch of 
pine woods, the driver turned into a private 
drive. 

As they neared the white mansion that 
stood behind two great gates, every whiff 
of air was scented and breathed of roses. 

But they had stopped at last, and the 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 131 

driver was helping Alys to alight, and a 
bevy of happy children, each clasping a 
beautiful doll, was greeting her, and Doro- 
thy’s mamma was saying something very 
sweet in her ear; but Alys could not under- 
stand mere words. She was going forward, 
smiling at everybody, at everything. 

Where is your dolly? ” asked a voice 
that called Alys out of her reverie. 

Oh! dear, I forgot it. Oh! isn’t that 
too bad,” sighed Alys; but Mrs. Clover, 
coming forward, said with a laugh, that 
is just what I thought some little girl might 
do, and so Dorothy has a doll all ready, 
waiting for a new mamma. Come right 
along, Alys, and take your child.” She led 
our little girl to a rustic bench on which a 
beautiful doll was sitting. '' There! how 
do you like it? ” 

Is it really for me? ” asked Alys, ta- 
king the wax doll, dressed in silk and laces, 
in her arms. 

<< For your very own, Alys, and I’m so 
glad you like it,” whispered Dorothy, while 
her mother slipped away to meet some new 
arrivals. 


132 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


She’s the beautifullest doll in the 
world, I think, and I’m going to call her 
Rosamond,” declared Alys. 

“ That is a very pretty name, and now 
you must excuse Dorothy,” called Mrs. 
Clover, until she greets all her little 
guests; but, by and bye, you can have an 
opportunity to say ever so many nice 
things to each other.” 

Alys, left alone for a minute, sat on a 
little bench covered with roses and looked 
about her. 

Oh! what a beautiful place! 

Everywhere there were roses and rose- 
buds, great bushes of them, standing like 
huge bouquets, vines of them, climbing 
over trellises and peeping behind rare 
plants. 

Branches of rose-buds were tied to rustic 
benches, and wreaths of roses were hang- 
ing about everywhere. 

Behind some potted plants, surrounded 
on all sides by rose-buds, a band of musi- 
cians played tuneful airs. 

Alys, who loved music, walked toward 
them, and had almost reached the great 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 133 

plants which partly hid them from view, 
when somebody said softly:— 

‘ Shine out, little head, sunning over with curls. ' 

Oh! ’’ cried Alys, peering behind one 
of the plants to see Do-re taking his place 
among the musicians, Are you here, 
too? ” She did not wait to hear his answer, 
because just at that moment a lovely little 
girl, dressed in pink, with a great pink silk 
doll, called her, and Alys hurried to her 
side. 

‘‘ Come and sit on this bench beside me,’’ 
said the girl, taking Alys’s hand. Doro- 
thy told me all about you. I’m Dorothy’s 
cousin, Mignon, and when I was a little 
baby my father had to go away off to India, 
so Uncle John had me come, and I’ve al- 
ways lived here with Dorothy. Do you like 
Brierwood? ” 

Oh! yes,” replied Alys, the roses are 
beautiful.” 

This is the rose-bud corner; you know, 
this is our very own corner. Then there’s 
a chrysanthemum comer, and the pink cor- 
ner, and Grandmother’s corner. Oh! you 


134 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

must see Grandmother’s comer of Brier- 
wood. It is an old-fashioned garden. 
There ’re balsams, and four o ’clocks, and 
sweet william, and ever so many pretty 
things, all growing up together. Grand- 
mother walks in it every day, and we bring 
out her papers to read, and sometimes she 
knits in a big rocking chair. Oh! you’ll 
see Grandmother’s corner of Brierwood! ” 
How pretty! ” cried Alys. I think 
it is like fairy land. ’ ’ 

‘‘ Brierwood is the biggest place in the 
world! Guess why? Because there’s al- 
ways room for more. That’s Uncle John’s 
riddle. It makes us laugh. He says that 
Dorothy and I are the prettiest rose-buds 
in rose-bud corner, and he says that noth- 
ing in Grandmother’s garden is half so 
quaint and sweet as herself. Oh! Uncle 
J ohn is funny, and we have such good times 
at Brierwood. But I think it is going to 
begin,” she cried suddenly, jumping down 
from the bench to meet a score of smiling 
little girls who came toward them. 

Then Mignon took Alys’s hand, and all 
the other children joined hands. With 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 135 

Dorothy Clover in the centre, they began to 
skip around, singing the prettiest song, the 
chorus of which was tra-la-la/’ Alys did 
not know the words but she sang the cho- 
rus with the others. 

After the merry ring around Dorothy, 
they played London Bridge.’’ Then 
some one suggested Button, Button,” 
and after that Blind Man’s Buff.” 

Suddenly a great basket of rose-buds was 
brought into the centre of the party, and 
Dorothy began to distribute them. When 
every child had a large bunch, it was an- 
nounced that the one who made the best 
wreath in ten minutes would get a prize. 

In a short time the little fingers were 
busy at the task. Some of the children sat 
on the rustic benches that were scattered 
about, others seated themselves on the 
lawn, and, while the little heads were bent 
over the rose-buds, the musicians played 
the liveliest Mother Goose melodies ever 
heard. Indeed, the music was so inspiring 
that Alys, who knew all the tunes, broke 
into song, and was joined by some of the 
others. 


136 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


Lady bug, lady bug,’’ and By Baby 
Bunting ” were two of the favorites. 

AJl at once Mrs. Clover rang a tiny bell 
as a signal for everybody to stop. The 
wreaths were held up for inspection, and 
it was unanimously decided that Alys had 
made the prettiest wreath. 

And this is the prize,” said Dorothy, 
holding forth a pretty sewing box, contain- 
ing needle, thimble, spools of thread,” 
everything, in fact, that was necessary for 
a little girl to use in sewing. The other 
children crowded around to see the prize 
and then other prizes were given for vari- 
ous games. A little girl, named Mildred, 
won a lovely cup and saucer for having 
dressed a doll the prettiest and in the short- 
est space of time. 

Suddenly the music was a lively march, 
whereupon Dorothy escorted her little 
friends to the rose arbor, where a long table 
was filled with goodies. At every little 
girl’s plate was a cluster of rose-buds, held 
together by a pretty gold pin, a gift from 
Dorothy to her guests. 

When everybody was seated at the table. 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 137 

and had expressed Ohs ’’ of admiration 
for the lovely birthday cake, with candles 
on it all lighted, somebody whispered 
‘‘ Story! and Mignon cried, 0 Auntie, 
where is the lady who told us such lovely 
stories at Mildred’s party? ” 

I expected her, dear, but at the last 
minute she found that she could not come.” 

Aren’t we going to hear any stories? ” 
asked Dorothy, looking from her mother to 
the eager faces of her guests around the 
table. 

Oh! I know some one who can tell a 
lovely story,” cried Alys. It is Do-re. 
I’ll run and ask him to come and tell you 
one right off the reel. Please excuse me 
for a minute until I ask him.” All the 
little girls stared at Alys, wondering what 
she was going to do. 

She hurried out of the rose arbor and 
over to the greenery where the musicians 
were playing, and, squeezing herself in be- 
hind a big plant, told Do-re her errand. 

He looked surprised, and a deep flush 
spread over his boyish face. The musi- 
cians played very softly for a second, to 


138 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


hear what the eager little girl had to say; 
but Mrs. Clover, who had followed Alys, 
whispered something to Do-re, and the flush 
deepened as he put aside his violin and 
walked with them to the beautiful rose 
arbor. 

‘‘I’m happy to tell you, children,” said 
Mrs. Clover, in introducing the young man, 
“ that one of Alys’s friends is kind enough 
to tell us a story.” 

Alys was bowing and smiling encourage- 
ment as she took her place. “ He has a lit- 
tle reel in his head, you know,” she said, 
by way of explanation. “ There are stories 
wound round and round, and when he 
wants one he only has to unwind it.” 

“ I am but a poor story teller, I fear,” 
said Do-re, brushing back the thick brown 
hair, and smiling over all those bright 
faces, “ but I’ll do the best I can and hope 
the reel will have one that you will like.” 

So saying, he took a seat in the midst of 
them and told them a really wonderful 
story about the beautiful Princess Lolette, 
imprisoned in a high tower by the wicked 
Giant Ruddylid, but rescued at last and 


ALYS AT BRIERWOOD 


139 


carried safely to her father’s castle by 
Prince Strongheart. 

And how do you suppose it was done, lit- 
tle readers? 

In the most remarkable way you ever 
heard. Lolette, so said the story-teller, 
found a tiny box in her room one day, and 
on opening it read in large letters, 

MAGIC HAIR GROWER.” 

then, for want of something better to do, she 
put the contents of the little box on her hair 
one night. In the morning her tresses fell 
over the bed and filled the room. In one 
night they had grown to a perfectly tre- 
mendous length. Lolette sat and braided 
her hair in one long braid. It took all one 
day and part of another before the task 
was completed, but when it was finished 
she sat at the window, letting her great 
braid fall outside till it reached down to 
the very ground. Then Prince Strong- 
heart saw it, and used it as a ladder to reach 
the tower, and with his golden sword he cut 
the braid from the head of the Princess, 


140 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


fastened it to a great hook, and taking Lo- 
lette in his arms climbed down the hair lad- 
der till they were safe. 

After this feat the ladder disappeared, 
by order of the fairies, who had planned 
the escape; the giant fell into a pit, con- 
venient and very deep; and Princess Lo- 
lette and Prince Strongheart lived happily 
ever after. 

Of course the Prince was sorry that the 
Princess had to lose her beautiful hair, but 
he decided that a short-haired princess was 
better than no princess at all. 

This story was greeted with murmurs of 
approval, and numerous questions were 
asked concerning Lolette^s beautiful hair. 

Then other stories were related, after 
which festivities were resumed and the 
children frolicked until it was time to go 
home. 


CHAPTER XIV 

ALYS- ALL -ALONE TALKS 

T he day after Dorothy Clover’s 
birthday party at Brierwood Alys 
went into the ‘‘ closed room ” and 
was careful to shut the door softly so that 
no one would disturb her. 

Mother dear,” said Alys, when she had 
drawn back the curtain from the beautiful 
picture, I came in here to tell you all 
about the party I went to yesterday. It 
was the beautifullest party in the world 
and I’ll never, never, never forget it; and 
Brierwood is the beautifullest place in the 
world and I’ll never, never forget the 
roses. Heaven is like Brierwood, mother; 
it’s full of roses, because Nora told me that 
Heaven is a beautiful place, so don’t you 
see it must have lovely roses all over it just 
like Brierwood. And Nora said that the 
roses in Heaven are more beautiful than 
those in Brierwood and that they have no 

141 


142 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


thorns. But really, mother dear, I don^t 
think that they could be more beautiful, 
and the thorns never hurt, mother, if you 
are careful. I think that a rose feels sorry 
if you hurt it, and, if you don’t take it gen- 
tly, you are not kind to it, but, oh! mother, 
I had a beautiful, bee-ootiful time at the 
party. 

Did you know that I never went to a 
party before in my life? No? Well, I 
never did; ’cause, why? ’Cause no one in- 
vited me. Isn’t that funny, mother? No 
one invited me because they did not know 
that I am Alys-all-alone. If all the lovely 
little girls who have beautiful mothers knew 
that I am Alys-aU-alone, I am sure they 
would all invite me to their parties. Why, 
I would get so many invitations to parties 
that I would go all the time, and every day 
would be just one big party. I love to go 
to parties, mother; that’s because I’m a 
girl. Girls always love to go to parties, 
don’t they, mother? Mother, you must 
have a party for your own little Alys-girl, 
some day. Oh! wait ’til you see my doll, 
mother; you must see my beautiful, bee- 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE TALKS 143 

ootiful doll. I’ll be right back, mother. 
Don’t go away, will you, dear? ” 

Alys ran to the Castle of Sunshine and, 
taking up the new doll lovingly in her 
arms, hastened back to the room of the 
beautiful picture. 

This is my new doll, Rosamond, a pres- 
ent from Dorothy Clover. Rosamond, bow 
to the beautiful lady. She is your grand- 
mother, you stupid little dolly. Don’t you 
know your own grandmother when you see 
her? 

You mustn’t mind, mother dear, if she 
stares at you and doesn’t talk much; all 
my children are just like me; it is very 
hard for them to talk except when I am 
out walking; then they just jabber—^ jab- 
bering is any langwidge but the pure Eng- 
lish langwidge,’— but perhaps, mother dear, 
she doesn’t feel real well ’quainted yet. I’m 
afraid I shall have to whip Rosamond when 
I get her home. That’s what a lady in the 
park said to her naughty child one day, and 
Nora said she ought to beat her black and 
blue. Wouldn’t those be pretty colors, 
mother? 


144 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Now, mother, see me walking up the 
street with beautiful Rosamond. I^m walk- 
ing now, mother, and now I’m running; 
I’m in a dreadful hurry; Rosamond just 
swallowed a rock when I wasn’t looking 
and she’s dreadful sick and I must take her 
to the doctor’s at once. I’ve been there; 
now I’m back from the doctor’s; he cured 
Rosamond, but he ’most killed her to cure 
her— funny, isn’t it, mother, that doctors 
most kill you to cure you? Nora said a 
doctor ’most killed her own cousin Ellen. 
He ^ caught her eyes in her hand ’ or some 
dreadful thing like that, and her very fat 
aunt, that comes to see her sometimes, has 
something, I don’t know what; but the 
doctor said she must ^ die yet ’ if she wanted 
to lose flesh. Oh! such a cruel doctor, 
mother dear. 

Now, mother, I am going to say a 
lovely jingle for you that Do-re taught me. 
Oh! first I must make a bow. 

“ If little sisters all were dolls, 

And little brothers, toys; 

And this were just a wooden world. 

What would we do for boys? 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE TALKS 


145 


We^d take a string and bend a pin, 

And hitch them to a pole, 

Where polly-wogs and jolly frogs 
Sit round a swimming hole. 

We^d go a-fishing in the mud. 

The bait would be — just noise; 

With tops and strings and drums and things. 
We’d catch some real live boys. 

“ If little sisters all were dolls. 

If brothers wore the curls. 

And this were just a saw-dust world. 

What would we do for girls? 

We’d take some sugar, kisses, too, 

A pinch of all things nice; 

Then frills and bills and thrills and trills. 
And, all afraid of mice. 

We’d put them where the roses grow. 

And sprinkle over pearls; 

With wiles and smiles and wait-a-whiles. 
We’d raise some truly girls. 


Do-re makes beautiful, bee-ootiful jin- 
gles. He has a little reel in bis bead; any 
one wbo bas a little reel in bis bead can 
make pictures or jingles or musical rap- 
sodas and lots of other things. 

And now I am going to play school 
with my doll. She bas never been to school, 
— Alys-all-alone has never been to school. 


146 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


yet, but I am going, mother, some day when 
I am a big girl. I know a great many 
things that Nora has taught me:— The 
President is King of America; he is going 
to build a bridge right over to Ireland; and 
some day Nora is going to take me over 
there when we go out for a walk. 

I think I must go now, mother; good- 
bye, dear. I shall not be Alys-all-alone 
when you come out qf the picture and talk 
to me. Oh! there is Nora, calling me to 
lunch. Good-bye, mother dear.” 


CHAPTER XV 

WIGGLES- WAGGLES 

T ORA, could you spread out your 
I arms and go around that pond 
like the dear ducks?’’ asked 
Alys one afternoon when they were walk- 
ing in the park. 

I suppose I could, Alys, if I knew how 
to swim.” 

Can all ducks swim, Nora? ” 

Surely, child, ducks take to water like 
lambs take to friskin’, every duck, or the 
likes o’ one, is a swimmer.” 

‘‘ But you cannot swim, Nora, can you? ” 
‘‘ No, darlin’, your own Nora cannot 
swim one stroke.” 

But, if the ducks know how to swim, 
why don’t you know how to swim, Nora? ” 

Hould on now, Alys; don’t be askin’ 
me some of your mortial questions.” 

What does ‘ mortial ’ mean? ” 


147 


148 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Army question that no mortial or no 
human bein’ can answer is mortial; that’s 
what mortial is.” 

But, Nora, please tell me why you can- 
not swim as well as the dear ducks.” 

’Cause I’m not a duck, be nature, Alys, 
and no one ever taught me how to swim.” 

Who taught the ducks to swim, 
Nora? ” 

Now who ever heard the likes of such 
a question as that, ‘ who taught the ducks 
to swim? ’ ” 

“ Yes, please tell me, Nora; who did 
teach the dear ducks to swim? ” 

‘‘ Well, the good Lord, that made all 
things to do what they ought to do, made 
thim ducks to swim. It’s right for ducks 
to swim, that’s why they can swim; and 
it’s right for the birds to fly, and that’s why 
they have wings to fly.” 

‘‘If I had wings to fly, could I fly, 
Nora? ” 

“ You’ve got wings, you darlin’; for all 
angels have wings and you’re a little angel, 
Alys dear.” 

“ Have I wings really, Nora? Oh! 


WIGGLES - WAGGLES 149 

goody! where are they? Oh! where are 
my wings? 

In Heaven, darlin\ Yon left them in 
Heaven when you came down into this 
world, but they are up there waiting for 
you.’’ 

Who is minding them up there, 
Nora? ” 

Angels, darlin’; angels and saints.” 

But, Nora, why didn’t they leave my 
wings on me? ” 

‘‘ They’d be in the way down here, dar- 
lin’; we don’t need wings down here as 
much as we need good hands and feet.” 

Who brought me down here, Nora? ” 

An angel, darlin’, an angel brought you 
down in a hand-basket.” 

Where’s the basket, Nora? ” 

Now, Alys, for the love o’ goodness 
don’t be axin’ me army more mortial ques- 
tions; me poor head does be bustin’ wid 
thinkin’ what I can be tellin’ yer that won’t 
be tellin’ yer; an’ now come on, darlin’, 
it’s time to go home.” 

Oh, Nora, please let me stay a little 
while longer, I love the dear ducks.” 


150 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


‘‘ No, Alys, it^s time to come now.’’ 

‘‘ Then I’ll throw them my last cracker; 
good-bye, little ducks, good-bye. 


“ Little ducks in the water 
Swim all day, ^cause you ^orter.’ 

That is a jingle, Nora, from Jingle- 
Jack. Jingle- Jack is Do-re’s friend. Do 
you know Jingle- Jack? ” 

No, darlin’, me friends are gintlemen, 
thanks be! wid their hair cut close.” 

Hand in hand, Nora and Alys turned 
away from the interesting ducks to start 
for home. They had gone but a few steps, 
however, when Alys gave a little squeal of 
joy. 

Oh, Nora, see that dear little dog run- 
ning to me. Isn’t he a dear little Wiggles- 
waggles? ” 

He is, Alys, a dear little pup; I dunno 
as I ever see such a cute Wiggles-waggles 
before.” 

A small, white, fluffy dog, with a great 
pink bow on his neck, came straight to Alys 
and began to bark and look up into her 


WIGGLES - WAGGLES 151 

face, as if he were trying to tell her some- 
thing. 

The child stroked and petted the pretty 
dog, and then went on her way; but, when 
they had gone a block or two beyond the 
park, what was their surprise to see the 
fluffy creature suddenly appear again and 
walk close beside Alys, as if he did not 
want to lose her. 

Why, you dear little Wiggles! ” cried 
Alys, I think you are following me! ” 

Eun away wid you now, Wiggles-wag- 
gles,’’ said Nora; you must not follow 
Alys or you might get lost.’’ 

But, in spite of Nora’s protest, the little 
dog would not leave the child’s side. He 
wiggled his dear little body and wagged his 
tail every step of the way, and, when at 
last they reached the house, showed very 
plainly that he expected to be invited to 
come in. 

When Nora had shut the door on him, he 
whined piteously and pleaded, as only a 
poor little dog can plead, to be allowed to 
go in also. 

Oh, Nora, please let him come in! 


152 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Hell be just as good as ever he can be, I 
am sure/’ 

No, darlin’, I could never let him come 
in here.” 

But, Nora, he followed me all the way 
home, and he is such a tiny little thing! 
Now, if he were a big dog, he could take 
care of himself; why, Nora, he is only a 
little baby dog! ” 

I know that, Alys; but, if he was as 
tiny again, I couldn’t take him in. What 
would your father say if I’d be lettin’ you 
bring in a stray dog from the street, child! 
No, darlin’, there’s noise enough up there, 
as it is, without a dog.” 

The child coaxed Nora very hard to ad- 
mit the little creature, but Nora was obdu- 
rate. At last Alys, with tears in her blue 
eyes, gave Wiggles one last pat on his curly 
head, and went slowly up the stairs and 
into the Castle of Sunshine.” 

But the picture of the little dog, with his 
pretty pink bow and the pitiful whine, 
made such an impression on the child’s 
mind that she could think of nothing else. 

Perhaps, the dear little fluffy dog is 


WIGGLES - WAGGLES 


163 


lost,’’ thought Alys, running to the window 
to see if she could catch a glimpse of him. 
Yes, he was still at the street door as 
if he were waiting patiently for Alys to 
come and let him in. This was too much 
for Alys’s loving little heart. With one 
bound she was out of the room and at the 
door of her father’s study. 

Please, please, papa, don’t be too busy! 
Oh! I must come in; there’s a dear, sweet, 
little, white, fluffy Wiggles-waggles down 
at the front door just begging to come in. 
He followed me all the way home. He may 
be lost, he may be sick, he might die, per- 
haps he doesn’t remember where he lives, 
papa! Oh! please, may he come into the 
Castle? ” 

‘‘Yes, yes, Alys dear. Run away now, 
I am very busy.” 

“Oh! thank you, papa. I’ll get him at 
once.” 

Alys ran all the way down-stairs, opened 
the door quickly and let the dog come in- 
side. He followed closely at her heels up 
the stairs and into the “ Castle of Sun- 
shine,” where she clapped her hands for 


154 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


joy and hugged him again and again. 
Then, followed by the dog, she ran to the 
kitchen to find Nora. 

I asked papa, Nora, and he said that I 
might let Wiggles come in; isn’t he a 
dear? ” 

He is a dear little doggy- woggy,” said 
the busy maid; but take him away now, 
Alys dear, out of my kitchen; there’s 
enough long-haired spicimens ’round this 
house, without me lookin’ at him.” 

When Alys left the kitchen she did not 
go at once to the Castle; she took him first 
to the closed room ” and introduced him 
to the beautiful picture mother.” 


CHAPTER XVI 

MORE ABOUT WIGGLES - WAGGLES 

A LYS kept Wiggles- waggles in the 
Castle that night; gave him a sup- 
per of bread and milk, and made a 
bed for him on her doll’s quilt. The fol- 
lowing day she was just in the midst of the 
happiest kind of a frolic with Wiggles and 
her dolls, when Do-re opened the door of 
the Castle and looked in. He made his 
eyes as roimd and wide and staring as an 
owPs, when he saw the new dog. 

Prithee, where did the lovely Princess 
Alys get the sweet little fluffy bow-wow? ” 
Ohf come in, Do-re, come right in and 
I’ll tell you all about it. Isn’t he a dear? 
I call him Wiggles-waggles and that must 
be bis name, for his tail keeps going all the 
time when I say it. Look, just look, at his 
tail; it won’t stop wagging! ” 

He is a very handsome little creature, 
Alys; where did you find him? ” 

155 


156 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

I didn’t find Mm, Do-re; but he foimd 
me. Wasn’t that sweet of him, the dear? 
He found me in the park. I think that he 
knew I was Alys-all-alone. I think that he 
knew about the ^ Castle of Sunshine ’ be- 
cause he just followed me every step of the 
way home and he wanted to come in here. 
He cried on the steps when Nora shut the 
door and wouldn’t let him in, and then I 
asked papa if I could get him. Isn’t he a 
dear little Wiggles- waggles I ” 

Yes, he certainly is a beautiful little 
dog, and I think Wiggles- waggles a very 
appropriate name; but I am very sure, Alys, 
that he is not a homeless dog; he looks as 
if he were well cared for, and I think, per- 
haps, that he has strayed away from his 
home.” 

But this is going to be his home now, 
Do-re; I am going to have him for my own 
little dog. I always wanted a little dog 
that looks like Wiggles, and now that I 
have him I’m going to keep him, papa said 
I could.” 

Yes, Alys, it seems as if he were just 
made for a dear little girl like yourself; 


ABOUT WIGGLES -WAGGLES 157 

but suppose that be does belong to a dear 
little girl just like you, and suppose that 
she thinks he is lost forever, and she^s very, 
very lonesome for him, and—” 

Oh-h,” interrupted Alys, I never 
thought of that! She may be crying for 
him, for her own dear Wiggles- waggles.” 

Yes, I think it very probable that she 
is,” said Do-re, bowing his head wisely. 

I wish that I could tell her that he’s 
safe in my Castle, Do-re. Oh! that poor 
little girl! ” 

Or, perhaps, Alys, it may be that he 
is the pet of some very kind mistress, or 
Wiggles may belong to a dear little boy 
who loves him very much.” 

I wish that we knew to whom he does 
belong. Do-re! ” 

I wish that we did, Alys! ” 

I would like to keep him for my own 
dear little Wiggles; but of course, if he 
belongs to somebody else who wants him, 
why— why— I must give him back.” 

That’s spoken like a true princess,” 
said Do-re; and I’ll tell you what I’ll do, 
Alys. He is so very handsome that I am 


158 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


sure whoever owns him will warn the pub- 
lic to be on the watch for him. I am due 
for my lesson now, but, when it is over, I 
will get a newspaper and see if any one 
has advertised the loss of this poor fluffy 
Wiggles. Bye-bye, Alys, for a while.” 

I hope that nobody wants him, so that 
he can be my own little dog forever,” called 
Alys. 

When Do-re had gone she looked at Wig- 
gles with wistful eyes, then, throwing her 
arms around his white fluffy neck, cried, 

Oh-h, you darling, I wish you didn’t have 
any home, or sisters or brothers or any- 
thing! I wish you were just Puppy-all- 
alone and could stay here with Alys-all- 
alone, forever.” 

Wiggles did his best to tell Alys that he 
appreciated her kindness, but she did not 
seem to understand, and at last he just 
caught her little doll in his mouth and 
shook it, and then, still holding the doll, 
rolled over and over in the funniest way, 
making Alys laugh heartily, and the Cas- 
tle of Sunshine ” was filled with merri- 
ment. 


ABOUT WIGGLES - WAGGLES 159 

In the afternoon it rained very hard, 
and Alys did not have her walk as usual; 
she played very happily with Wiggles and 
her dolls, however, until Nora called her 
to supper. 

Nora,^^ whispered Alys, ^^may dear 
little Wiggles- waggles have supper with 
me,— I mean, couldn^t he sit on a chair be- 
side me at the table? He’d be just as still, 
as still— wouldn’t you. Wiggles? ” 

Wiggles- waggles, thus addressed, gave 
a little bark of joy, and wagged his tail 
harder than ever. 

That wagging means ^ yes,’ Nora. 
Dogs talk with their tails, you know, Nora 
dear.” 

I know what I knows, Alys, and that 
is if a sthray monkey wanted to sit nigh 
yer I s’pose he would, yer that coaxin’; 
but remember, Alys, it’s the last time, the 
last time, mind you, that anny four-legged 
sthray spicimins will sit at the table wid 
Christians! ” 

Nora dear, what are spicimins? ” 

Anny thing that is what it should not 
be is a spicimin, dear.” 


160 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Are monkeys spicimins, Nora? ’’ 

They are that, the worst kind/^ 

But, Nora, Wiggles—’^ 

Hould on now, Alys, for the love o’ 
goodness don’t begin; let the little hathen 
sit nigh yer, if you want him, but don’t 
begin to ax me who med him and where he 
come from.” 

But we don’t know where he came 
from, Nora dear; he’s just strayed, Do-re 
said that he was.” 

He did, did he? I wonder is he 
just sthrayed, or has he lost himself en- 
tirely? ” and Nora gave a peal of laugh- 
ter. 

Nora dear, why are you laughing so 
hard? Is it funny? ” 

It is funny, Alys. It’s a fimny world.” 
Why is it a funny world, Nora? ” 

Why is it a funny world, Alys? Sure 
now, that’s a riddle entirely.” 

What is a riddle, Nora? ” 

Well, a riddle is just a riddle, and you 
can’t make anny thing else out of it, child; 
and what makes the world fimny is a rid- 
dle, and some o’ thim long-haired fellers, 


ABOUT WIGGLES - WAGGLES 161 

I see coinin’ around, is a riddle,— to me, 
annyhow.” 

Well, Nora, please tell me, what does 
make the world funny? ” 

Spicimins, Alys, just spicimins.” 

Nora, I love you very much, because 
you’re so happy. I think you could make 
sunshine.” 

I can make sunshine cake, Alys, and 
you’re a darlin’.” 


CHAPTER XVn 

TEN DOLLARS REWARD 

^ AY I come into your Castle, 
\/| Pair Princess'? ’’ asked Do-re, a 
few days later, after he had 
knocked several times and had received no 
word from his partner. 

Oh! come right in. Do-re, said Alys, 
opening the door. I was having such a 
beautiful, bee-ootiful time with Wiggles- 
Waggles that I never heard you knock.’’ 

I have something to tell you about 
Wiggles,” said Do-re, dropping into his 
favorite attitude, Turkish fashion, on the 
floor. I was right in my surmises about 
Wiggles; listen to this.” Do-re opened a 
newspaper and read as follows: 

‘^TEN DOLLARS REWARD 

“ Lost — A small white poodle with a pink bow on 
his neck. Answers to the name of ‘ Wiggles.’ Jumped 
162 


TEN DOLLARS REWARD 


163 


from carriage last Tuesday in the Park and has been 
missing ever since. Whoever returns the dog to 400 
Felicity Square will receive the above reward. 

But, Do-re, I don’t understand; what 
does the ten dollars mean? ” 

It means, my dear, that you will re- 
ceive that amount of money from the 
owner of the dog.” 

But the dog is their own little dog. 
Do-re.” 

Yes, Alys.” 

Then why do they give some one else 
money for their own little dog? It’s funny, 
isn’t it. Do-re? ” 

It is queer, Alys, when you stop to 
think of it, that one should be rewarded for 
honesty—” 

And isn’t it strange. Do-re, that we 
should have called him by his right name. 
Wiggles, all the time? ” observed the child. 

No other name would fit him quite so 
well, Alys.” 

Well, poor little Wiggles- waggles will 
have to leave his Alys-all-alone and go 
home, won’t he. Do-re? ” 

Yes, dear, I think the sooner he goes 


164 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


the better, and that is the reason I came 
here; I thought I could take him now/’ 

‘‘ Be sure, Do-re, to tell the little girl, 
or the little boy, that I took good care of 
him and that I love him very much and I’m 
sure he loves me, too. Will you be sure to 
say that, Do-re? ” 

I will, Alys. I’ll say— 

Little Boy Blue, now tell me true 
Which do you love the best? 

Your pussy fair, with her wise, proud air, 

Or the bow-wow, never at rest. 

Never at rest, if you want his best; 

Never too tired to roam. 

Never too old to mind the cold; 

Very best guide to home. 

‘ I like the pussies,^ Boy Blue said, 

^ For all their claws and spats. 

And yet my little shaggy dog 
Is worth ten thousand cats.^ ” 

“ Oh, Do-re, that’s a lovely jingle about 
little dogs; but I do not think one little dog 
is worth ten thousand pussies; do you? ” 
“I’m afraid I do, Alys. It may be rank 
treason, but I’ve a reason for this treason. 
And now I think I had better take Wiggles 
and go along.” 

“ Oh-h! you dear, dear Wiggles,” said 


TEN DOLLARS REWARD 


165 


Alys, taking him in her arms for a last em- 
brace, would you rather go home to your 
own truly house than live with me ? I guess 
you would! ” 

It was very hard at the last for Alys to 
keep back the tears, as she had become much 
attached to the lovable little creature. But 
Do-re assured her that the little dog would 
really be happier in his own home and 
promised that, when he had returned him 
to his owner, he would come back and tell 
her all about it. 

When Do-re had gone, Alys pressed her 
face against the window pane, and watched 
him going down the street, with Wiggles- 
waggles under his arm, until they had 
turned the corner and were out of sight. 
Then she sat on the floor of the Castle, gath- 
ered all her dolls in her arms, and told them 
the whole, sad story of Wiggles ’s short so- 
journ among them. 

Do-re foimd tiiat it was impossible to 
return that day; but the very next morn- 
ing he appeared in the Castle of Sun- 
shine,’^ to find Alys, with her dolls, looking 
intently down into the street. 


166 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Good morning, partner.’’ 

Oh! good morning, Do-re, I did not see 
you coming,” said Adys. 

Have you made any cheer to-day? ” 
asked Do-re, rubbing his hands in a busi- 
ness-like way. 

‘‘ No, Do-re,” answered Alys, turning 
from the window with a very wistful little 
face, I haven’t tried to make even a teeny 
weeny little bit of cheer.” 

And why, fair Princess? Tell me why 
the Sunshine and Cheer business is so 
dull.” 

Because I’m dreadful lonesome for 
Wiggles. Isabel and Rosamond are good; 
but, after all, they’re only dolls, and they 
sit there and stare at me so stupid when 
I’m telling them a lovely story. I was so 
cross with Isabel for just staring at me 
that I’ve put her to bed; but Wiggles- 
waggles, the dear, whenever I told him a 
story, he understood every word that I 
said. He winked his eyes, and wiggled his 
ears and, when I shouted ‘ Hooray! ’ he 
just jumped up and barked; he was shout- 
ing ^ Hooray! ’ too, in puppy language.” 


TEN DOLLARS REWARD 167 

I came here this morning to tell you, 
Alys, all about Wiggles-waggles/’ 

Did you, Do-re? Oh! goody, tell me, 
please.’^ 

Well, Alys, first of all I carried Wig- 
gles to the address given in the newspaper 
and I found that he belonged to a kind mis- 
tress and a dear little boy, who had grieved 
over the loss of him very much.’^ 

‘‘ Oh! Do-re, that’s just what you 
said.” 

Yes, Alys, and Wiggles was delighted 
to see them. He jumped and barked and 
licked their faces and did everything a 
little dog could do to show his pleasure at 
seeing them. So you see, dear, although 
you were very good to Wiggles and no 
doubt he enjoyed himself here, it was not 
quite so sweet as being at home,— ‘ be it 
ever so humble there’s no place like home,’ 
especially to a dog. And here’s the rest of 
the story.” Do-re put his hand in an inside 
pocket and, taking out a brand new ten- 
(dollar bill, placed it in Alys’s lap. 

What is this, Do-re? ” 

That is the ten dollars reward, Alys. 


168 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


I did not want to take it, but the lady made 
me see that it was yours honestly and 
fairly.” 

Is ten dollars very much money, 
Do-re? ” 

Yes, it is a great deal of money for a 
little girl.” 

‘‘ Goody! How much is it? ” 

WeU, it’s ten times as much as one dol- 
lar; it’s— let me see— it’s one thousand 
times more than one of your pennies. 
Phew! one thousand times— just think of 
it! ” 

“ What can we do with it. Do-re? What 
do people do when they have one thousand 
times more money than they need? ” 

Well, Alys, there are different things. 
Some people do a great deal of good. What 
would you like to do? ” 

I’d like to do some good, Do-re. I’m 
very rich, now, am I not? ” 

‘‘ Alys dear, with your heart and mind, 
you are the very richest little girl in the 
universe! ” 

Oh! goody! goody! Then I’m one of 
the little sisters of the rich, and I ought to 


TEN DOLLARS REWARD 169 

do something for my little sisters of the 
poor. What can I do, Do-re? ” 

But, Alys dear, you have already done 
something for your little sisters of the poor. 
Did you not plan the biggest doll party in 
the world for them? Why not consider, 
now, the little brothers of the little sisters 
of the poor? ’’ 

What can I do for them, Do-re? Oh! 
I know! Monkeys, Do-re, monkeys! Boys 
do not care for dolls, but they love mon- 
keys! ’’ 

No, Alys, I object! Willing as I am to 
help the cause along, I cannot conscien- 
tiously, nor without grave danger to my 
self-respect, both as a man and a musician, 
distribute monkeys! Please do not suggest 
a monkey party, Alys! ” 

‘‘Oh! no! Do-re; not live monkeys! I 
suggest a monkey-on-a-stick, or a woolly 
lamb or a Teddy bear,— what do you sug- 
gest, Do-re? ’’ 

“ Something they all like tremendously, 
but never get; or, at least, never get 
enough of it.’’ 

What is that. Do-re? ” 


170 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


ICE CREAAI.’’ 

Oh! goody! goody! ’’ 

Now, Alys, I must go, because it^s time 
for my lesson,” said Do-re, looking at his 
watch. I shall tell your father all about 
the ten dollars reward. In the meantime 
well both have on our thinking caps and 
see if we can devise a real good scheme to 
make happy the little brothers of the little 
sisters of the poor. Auf wiedersehen,’^ 
When he had gone Alys took the ten- 
dollar bill and put it carefully in her doll’s 
trunk, under the table. Riches are a care, 
and she felt that so much money should be 
put in the safest possible place. 


CHAPTER XVm 

A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 

'' y4 LYS, Alys, here is a letter for your 
own dear self,’’ declared Nora, 
opening the door of the Castle, 
and holding up a small white envelope that 
the postman had just left. 

For me! ” exclaimed Alys, dropping 
her dolls on the sofa; open it, open it, 
Nora, and let me see it, and read it; oh! 
please, Nora, read it to me at once and tell 
me what it is about and— 

Whist, hould yerself in, darlin’; don’t 
run away wid yerself entoirely,” admon- 
ished Nora, and, opening the dainty enve- 
lope, she read aloud,— 

Dear Alys:— We would like very much 
to have you come for a drive with us to- 
morrow afternoon, if you father is willing 

ITl 


m ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

We will call early and go out to Chestnut 
Wood. Yours lovingly, 

Dorothy Clover 
and her mother.” 

Oh! isn’t that beautiful, bee-ootiful! 
I’ll see dear little Dorothy Clover again, 
and we’ll have a lovely drive, and we can 
talk about the party and the dolls, and I’ll 
go to a lovely wood perhaps, and pick flow- 
ers and — 

Sh-h, there you go again! You’re a tur- 
rible girl, Alys, for runnin’ away wid yer- 
self when you’ve anny thing on your mind! 
Hould in a little, and, first of all, go ask 
your father.” 

Is there any one in his study with him 
now, Nora? ” 

No one but himself, Alys; you’ll never 
have a better time to ask him; for one of 
thim long-haired chaps may come in at 
anny time.” 

I’ll go now,” cried Alys, and with a 
bound left the room, but came back again 
to ask breathlessly for the letter. 

When Nora had put it safely in her hand 




i 



A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 17S 

Alys ran to her father’s room, opened the 
study door, and stood smiling expectantly 
on the threshold. But the musician never 
saw her. He was standing with his back 
to the door, singing over and over some 
strange words, the music of which he 
played on the piano with one hand. He 
seemed to be very busy composing; indeed 
his whole soul was in his work, and Alys 
began to doubt the success of her effort to 
see him. All at once she straightened up 
and coughed bravely, ‘‘ Ahem! ” but papa 
never looked up. ‘‘ Ahem! ” coughed Alys 
louder, and still the musician, intent on his 
work, never turned. 

Papa,” called the little girl with all 
her might, but still he did not hear her. 

Oh dear! he’s composing, so of course 
he’ll not see his little girl! ” and suddenly 
the tears started in her eyes and she walked 
reluctantly away. 

Unconsciously her footsteps sought the 
closed room; she opened the door and went 
inside, crying softly to herself. 

Oh! mother, mother, mother! speak to 
your little girl; talk to poor little Alys-all- 


174 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

alone. My papa cannot speak to me and 
you cannot speak to me, and I^m dreadful 
lonesome for a mother that talks out loud 
to her little girl. Why don’t you talk to 
me, mother? Your eyes see me just like 
truly eyes. They know I’m Alys-all-alone 
because they follow me around everywhere 
I go. I want to go to drive with Dorothy 
Clover, I want to show my papa this lovely 
letter; but he cannot see his little Alys-all- 
alone because he is composing. He doesn’t 
even know that I’ve got this beautiful, 
bee-ootiful letter. See it, mother! It is 
an invitation to go for a lovely drive to 
Chestnut Wood. May I go, mother dear? 
May I? Oh! please tell me! ” 

Alys, Alys darlin’, where are you? ” 
called Nora. 

Here I am,” answered Alys, brushing 
away the tears from her eyes and opening 
the door of the closed room to meet Nora. 

Why, I’ve been lookin’ for you; I 
couldn’t find you anny where. Mrs. Clover 
and the little girl are in the room there, 
waiting for you. Run in, darlin’, and see 
them.” 


A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 175 

Alys did not need a second bidding. 
The disappointment was forgotten for the 
time being as she hurried to the library. 
The next minute two little girls had thrown 
their arms around each other’s neck in 
loving embrace. 

Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Dorothy,” 
cried Alys, so excited that she quite forgot 
to greet Dorothy’s mother, but that wise 
woman understood perfectly and sat there 
smiling a welcome to the dear little girl. 

We had an errand on this street, 
Alys,” explained Mrs. Clover, and we 
thought it would be a good time to call and 
see if you are going to drive with us to- 
morrow afternoon. Have you asked your 
father, dear? ” 

All the happy smiles faded from the little 
girl’s face at the question. For a moment 
she fingered her dress, looking at her vis- 
itor with wistful eyes. It was so unlike 
the usual frank, outspoken manner of Alys 
that Mrs. Clover regarded her with sur- 
prise. 

I wanted to ask my papa,” faltered 
Alys, but, when I went into his study, 


176 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

he was so busy with his music that he never 
saw me/’ 

That is too bad, Alys; you must wait 
until he is not so busy.” 

Oh! please do not be sorry if my papa 
is busy! Some papas have to be busy all 
the time, you know, and my papa is the 
dearest, kindest papa in the world; but, 
when he is composing, he cannot see me. 
He forgets that I am Alys-all-alone, you 
know, so I asked my mother if I could go 
with you and—” 

Tour mother! ” exclaimed Mrs. Clover. 

I thought — I supposed — where is your 
mother, dear? ” 

In the closed room,” replied Alys. 

Come and I will show you. Please come, 
and Dorothy, too, and see my beautiful, 
bee-ootiful mother.” 

She took the woman’s hand in her own 
and, with a backward glance at Dorothy, 
started for the closed room. Although 
Alys was in the habit of going into the 
room almost every day, she never forgot 
to cover the beautiful picture as she had 
seen her father cover it on that first night. 


A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 177 

So now, when Mrs. Clover and Dorothy 
were inside, Alys ran to the picture and 
drew back the dark curtain, and the lovely 
woman with the blue eyes, and the misty 
blue dress, smiled down on each and all of 
them. 

The lonely child had played the 
mother ” game so often with the beau- 
tiful portrait that, long since, it had ceased 
to be merely a picture to her little mind. 
If not reality, perhaps, it was something 
very near it. 

“ Mother, this is Mrs. Clover and Doro- 
thy. Don’t you remember, mother, I told 
you all about their party at Brierwood? ” 
Alys turned to smile at her visitors and 
went on to assure them in her sweet, child- 
ish prattle that her mother knew every 
word that she said; that the eyes watched 
and followed her just like all mothers 
watch their little girls. But Mrs. Clover 
had turned away and buried her face in her 
handkerchief until, all at once, she gathered 
Alys in her arms and covered her face with 
kisses. 

Draw the curtain over the beautiful 


178 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

picture, Alys, and you and Dorothy go back 
to the library and wait until I come. I am 
going to see your father a moment.’’ 

He’s in that room,” said Alys, pointing 
to the door of her father’s study. Mrs. 
Clover, may Dorothy come into my Cas- 
tle? ” 

“Yes, dear, go in and play until I come.” 

The two little girls bounded into the 
“ Castle of Sunshine,” while the woman 
walked to the door of the study and, wait- 
ing for an interval of quiet between the 
bars of music, she knocked loudly. 

The musician appeared at once. 

“ I am Mrs. Clover, your little girl’s 
friend. I wanted to talk with you just a 
moment about her, if you are not too 
busy.” 

“ I shall be glad to,” he answered, as he 
drew a chair for his visitor. 

In his own mind the musician kept re- 
peating the woman’s name, trying to re- 
member where he had heard it. All at once 
it came to him. 

“ Ah, now I remember! ” he said simply, 
“ and I want to thank you, Mrs. Clover. 


A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 179 

Alys told me about the party,— that won- 
derful party,’’ he added with a smile. 

The children did have a real good 
time,” said the woman, and I am sure 
that your little Alys contributed no small 
share to their enjoyment; she is so bright, 
and such an original little soul, we are all 
very fond of her.” 

The musician’s fine face glowed with 
pleasure ; it was good to hear that his little 
one was loved and appreciated. 

I thought,” continued Mrs. Clover, if 
you were willing, I would take Alys home 
with me for a short visit. I think the dear 
child is lonely.” 

Lonely! ” echoed the man, Ach, Oott, 
who is not! ” he said passionately, as if 
speaking to himself. She is all that I have 
left, madame ; you cannot understand what 
this means to me! Her mother was a com- 
patriot of yours , — she left me for a little 
visit and that was the end of my happi- 
ness.” 

Is she dead? ” asked Mrs. Clover, gen- 

tiy- 

For a moment the musician did not an- 


180 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

swer, then, in a voice full of emotion, he 
said, ‘‘ I do not know. That is the terrible 
part of it all! I do not know,’’ he repeated, 
helplessly. She left us to go to America 
to take care of her father, who was very 
sick. After many months I followed with 
my baby and my sister. We were run into 
in the fog off Newfoundland and many 
lives were lost, among them my dear sister. 
Alys and I were picked up by a fishing ves- 
sel and, after many hardships and much 
delay, we reached the town of G-loucester. 
Through the kindness of my friend Herr 
Stein I established myself here at last.’’ 

But, your wife? Did you never hear 
from her? ” 

‘‘ Not one word,” he answered. 

That is very strange,” observed the 
woman. 

She was ill after her father’s death, 
and for many weeks was in a hospital. 
After she grew better and left the hospital 
all trace of her is lost.” 

That is a picture of your wife in the 
room that Alys calls the closed room, is it 
not?” 


A REAL MOTHER FRIEND 181 

“Yes, that is her picture. She sent it 
to me before I ever thought of leaving Ger- 
many. Fortunately I did not bring it when 
we came on that ill-fated ship, or it would 
have been lost. I sent for it after I was 
settled here. It is all that I have of her.” 

“ But surely you have searched, you 
have tried to find her? ” 

“ In every possible way, and yet how lit- 
tle, after all, I have done! It takes much 
time and money to do anything in such a 
case, and I have neither, because I had to 
begin all over again when I came here. At 
first I was full of hope. I was mad enough 
to believe that she was alive and that I 
would find her; but now—” the man shook 
his head sadly and, walking to the mantel, 
he stood there apparently lost in thought. 

“ I am very sorry,” said Mrs. Clover, 
rising, “ and you must let me help you, not 
only in this sad affair, but also in regard 
to your little girl. She is really old enough 
to go to school. You are a very busy man 
and have not thought about it, perhaps; 
but I have a little one about the same age 
as Alys and I know something about the 


182 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


dear child’s needs. I would be glad to help 
you in any way.” 

‘‘ I thank you very much. I appreciate 
the kindness of your mother’s heart,” said 
the musician, earnestly. I will be very 
grateful,” he continued, if you will ad- 
vise me a little later about the child’s early 
education. I have now a very important 
work on hand; it is however almost fin- 
ished; then I shall be glad to avail myself 
of your kindness.” 

And Alys may come with us for a drive 
sometimes? ” asked Mrs. Clover. 

‘‘ Yes, indeed, I shall be glad to have her 
go with you, any time.” 

When Mrs. Clover had taken leave of the 
musician, she went to the door of the Cas- 
tle of Sunshine ” and knocked gently, then 
opened it and walked into the room. 

Well, well, children! ” she exclaimed, 
very much surprised at what she saw. 


CHAPTER XIX 

ONE THOUSAND TIMES TOO MUCH MONEY 

T he two little girls were sitting on 
the sofa, studying, as it were, a 
brand new ten-dollar bill which 
Alys held at arm’s length in one hand. 

<< Why, Alys dear, you are not playing 
with that money, are you? ” asked the as- 
tonished woman. 

No, Mrs. Clover; I am only showing it 
to Dorothy.” 

Is it your own, Alys? ” 

Yes, Mrs. Clover; it is my very own. 
It is the reward, you know, that Do-re got 
when he took Wiggles-waggles home, and 
it is one thousand times more money than 
I need.” 

Well, Alys, what are you going to do 
with so much money? ” 

<< We’re thinking. Do-re and I, of some 

183 


184 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


good plan to help the little brothers of the 
little sisters of the poor, you know.’’ 

Alys,” said the woman, sitting beside 
the two little girls, I think you are going 
to be a great philanthropist when you grow 
up.” 

Is it something very nice? ” asked 
Alys. 

It is the best thing in the world, Alys 
dear.” 

‘‘Oh! goody! then I’ll be one,” declared 
the child. 

“ And do you really want to spend your 
ten dollars to make the little brothers of 
the poor happy? ” questioned Mrs. Clover. 

“Yes, Mrs. Clover; that is just what we 
want to do. I s’jest monkeys, but Do-re 
s ’jests ice-cream.” 

“ I wonder if you and Do-re would be 
willing to let Dorothy share in your plan? ” 

“Oh! yes, we would love to have Doro- 
thy, too.” 

“ Thank you, Alys; now I’ll tell you 
what we’ll do. Dorothy and I will try also 
to think of a good plan and, when we do. 
I’ll teU you aU about it.” 


THOUSAND TIMES TOO MUCH 185 

That will be beautiful, bee-ootiful,’’ de- 
clared Alys, clapping her hands. 

What a very interesting place this is,’’ 
said Mrs. Clover, reading aloud the great 
sign over the door,— 

^^THE CASTLE OF SUNSHINE AND CHEER 
Princess Alys — Prince Do-rb 

Sunshine made and distributed to all parts of 
the house, free of charge. 

Good cheer made expressly for: — 

Dark Days. 

Disappointments . 

Dubious Faces. 

Cross-patches. 

Sick-rooms. 

Bitter Medicines. 

Bad News. 

Anger Clouds. 

Hard Lessons. 

Failures, Blues and all Croakers.*' 

“ I forgot that you had never been in 
here,” said Alys. “ Do-re turned this into 
a ‘ Castle of Sunshine,’ you know, and of 
course with that big sign over the door I 
must make all the cheer that I can.” 

“ I think that I begin to see the reason 


186 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

for all the good plans to make little broth- 
ers and sisters happy,” said Mrs. Clover. 

This is the factory, as it were, to make 
the good cheer plans.” 

Yes, yes,” cried Alys, clapping her 
hands, you ought to hear Do-re tell about 
it. He said that people had no idea how 
contagious happiness is, and if little boys 
and girls made up their minds to catch hap- 
piness, instead of measles and things, there 
would be so many ^ cases ’ of happiness 
that it would spread all over the city, and 
it would not stop there, either; but keep 
on and on — why! you never could tell 
where it would stop, if it ever did stop.” 

Well, Alys, we have learned a great 
deal in your Castle. I think that your Do-re 
is a philosopher, and his partner is a phi- 
lanthropist; that is a combination that 
might conquer the world. And now we 
must go.” 

Don’t forget to-morrow,” whispered 
Dorothy. 

If it is a pleasant day,” said Mrs. 
Clover, ‘‘ we will call and take you to 
drive.” 


THOUSAND TIMES TOO MUCH 187 

Thank you, Mrs. Clover, I would love 
to go for a drive with Dorothy.’’ 

Then Mrs. Clover and Dorothy took leave 
of our little girl, and she ran into the 
kitchen to tell Nora the good news. 


CHAPTER XX 

THE DRIVE 

I N the afternoon of the following day, 
Alys, in a flutter of excitement, ran 
from one window to the other to catch 
the first glimpse of Dorothy and her mother, 
who were coming to take her to drive. 

IVe never been in a carriage since the 
day we went to Dorothy’s party, Nora; do 
you remember that lovely ride out to Brier- 
wood? ” 

Yes, indeed, Alys; I remember it,— a 
fine time we had indeed, darlin’.” 

I thought that day that a fairy god- 
mother had really turned a pumpkin into 
that big carriage, — do you remember, 
Nora? ” 

Yes, darlin’.” 

And I thought that the horses were 
made from mice, — do you remember that, 
Nora? ” 


188 


THE DRIVE 


189 


‘'Yes, dear/’ 

‘‘ Are you very sure, Nora, that a fairy 
godmother did not turn pumpkins and 
mice into horses and carriages for Doro- 
thy? ” 

‘‘ Dorothy’s fairy godmother is her own 
good father, Alys. He’s a very rich man 
and has heaps of money,—” 

‘‘ Where did he get it, Nora? ” 

“ How do I know, darlin’, where he got 
it? But he can buy horses and carriages 
and otters and whatever he likes, Alys.” 

‘‘ Nora, what are otters? ” 

“ Otters? Well, now, Alys, where are 
the eyes in your head, child! Otters are 
big, clmnsy-lookin’ coaches wid enormous 
rubber wheels on them and a shover to 
wind them up and make them go, instead of 
horses.” 

“ Oh, Nora, you mean automobiles! 
Do-re told me all about them,— but, see, 
see, Nora, there they are! Oh! goody! 
goody! ” 

“ Hould on now, Alys, don’t run away 
wid yourself entirely. They’re only just 
turned the corner; and Alys, for the love 


190 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


o' goodness, don’t be axin’ Dorothy’s 
mother any of those mortial questions, will 
you, dear? ” 

Do you mean about ducks, Nora? Oh! 
no, I shall not ask Mrs. Clover about ducks; 
I shall ask her where Mr. Clover got all 
the horses and carriages.” 

‘‘ Why, why, Alys, would you ax the lady 
such a question as that? ” 

Well, then I could tell my papa and 
Do-re, and then they could get horses and 
carriages — ” 

No, Alys; you must not ask anything 
like that.” 

<< Why? Is that mortial, too, Nora? ” 

It’s worse, Alys; it’s bold and what’s 
bold in a little girl is not nice and not per- 
lite.” 

Well, what can I ask her? I want 
to ask her something, Nora; all little 
girls talk, don’t they, when they are driv- 
ing? ” 

Of course they do. You can ax her if 
she’s well herself and if himself is well,— 
an’— an’ things like that; just cashul like, 
but not mortial.” 


THE DRIVE 


191 


For a moment a little frown puckered 
Alys’s childish brow. She wanted to be a 
polite little girl, and to say what was right 
and proper; but Nora’s explanations at 
times were very puzzling, indeed, and Alys 
wished in her own dear little soul that 
Nora were more explicit, so that she knew 
exactly what was ‘‘ cashul ” and what 
mortial.” 

Just then the bell rang and Alys ran into 
her father’s study, gave him a hasty kiss, 
and hurried down-stairs to meet her 
friends. 

The next minute she was in the carriage, 
sitting between Dorothy and her mother, 
and they were driving away from the street 
of great apartment houses to a beautiful 
broad avenue. 

Mrs. Clover, are you well? ” asked 
Alys, suddenly, in a serious voice. 

Thank you, Alys; I am very well,— 
and you? ” 

I am very well, too, Mrs. Clover, and 
so happy. Is himself well? ” 

Whom do you mean, Alys dear? ” 

I don’t know, Mrs. Clover. Nora said 


192 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

to ask if himself was well; that is cashul, 
but not mortial.’’ 

Mrs. Clover tried very hard to repress 
her mirth, but it simply would not be re- 
pressed. 

Alys! Alys! ” she said, ‘‘ you are a 
dear little girl and it is very thoughtful of 
you to inquire so kindly for the health of 
your friends. We are well, dear, all ex- 
cept grandmother, who has had a little 
trouble with her feet.” 

Corns and onions, Mrs. Clover? ” 

No, dear, I think it is rheumatism. 
And now, Alys, I have something very in- 
teresting to tell you. Dorothy’s father 
thought that it was a splendid scheme to 
do something for the little brothers of the 
little sisters of the poor. He is very much 
pleased, Alys, because he is a philanthro- 
pist, too, in his way, although he does not 
know it, and he likes to hear of anything 
that is going to be a help to children or 
that means wholesome enjoyment for them. 
He was really enthusiastic because a little 
girl wanted to give her first ten dollars to 
make somebody happy; so he is going to 


THE DRIVE 


193 


give an outing at Brierwood to all the little 
brothers, and he has written a letter to 
your friend Do-re, asking him to help. Mr. 
Clover is going to talk it over with Do-re, 
and between them they will plan some- 
thing very good, I am sure.” 

Oh! goody! goody! ” cried Alys, clap- 
ping her hands, that will be beautiful, 
just bee-ootiful.” 

And that is not all, either, Alys. There 
is going to be a surprise. Dorothy’s father 
has a surprise in store for you.” 

For me? ” asked Alys. 

‘‘ For you and Dorothy and Do-re and 
the little brothers; it will be a surprise for 
everybody, in fact.” 

When are we going to know what the 
surprise is? ” asked Alys. 

You will hear all about it on the day 
of the outing,” answered Mrs. Clover. 

And my father’s surprises are always 
great, big, happy, happy surprises,” de- 
clared Dorothy. 

The rest of that drive was like a joyful 
dream to little Alys. When they reached 
Chestnut Wood, they all got out of the car- 


194 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


riage and gathered a great bouquet of wild 
ferns. They strolled leisurely through the 
path in the woods and looked behind green 
bushes, hoping to find a fairy fiower that 
might have been planted there just for 
them. But, in spite of the delightful an- 
ticipation of finding such a treasure, Alys’s 
mind was filled, not so much with the fairy 
flowers, as with the thought of the wonder- 
ful outing and great surprise that Mr. 
Clover was going to give at beautiful Brier- 
wood for the little brothers of the little 
sisters of the poor. 

During the drive home she could talk of 
nothing else, and, when at last the carriage 
stopped at the great brick apartment house 
in which our little Alys lived, she said to 
Mrs. Clover in a loud whisper, Will you 
please wait, Mrs. Clover, wait one little 
minute? I have something for Mr. Clo- 
ver.” 

‘‘Yes, dear, we will wait.” 

Alys ran all the way up-stairs and 
reached the Castle of Sunshine and 
Cheer,” quite breathless. She went at 
once to her doll’s trunk, opened it quickly. 


THE DRIVE 


195 


and drew out the new ten-doUar bill. Then, 
holding it tightly in her dear little fist, she 
ran down the stairs again and hastened to 
the side of the carriage. Please give this 
to Mr. Clover for me,^^ said Alys, and tell 
him iPs to buy some lovely things for the 
party for the little brothers.’’ 

‘‘Yes, dear,” said Mrs. Clover, taking 
the bill, “ I shall tell him just what you 
said.” 

“ Good-bye, Dorothy, good-bye, Mrs. 
Clover.” 

“ Good-bye, good-bye.” 

Alys waved her hand to them until they 
had turned the comer and were out of sight, 
then ran up the stairs again to tell Nora 
and papa and the beautiful picture mother 
all about the new party and the great sur- 
prise. 


CHAPTER XXI 

“CLOVER HOUSE” 

M ister, will you please tell us 
what time the next train leaves 
for Brierwood? 

The station master, thus addressed, 
looked over his glasses at three little street 
urchins who had suddenly appeared on the 
platform just as an outward bound train 
had turned the curve, and was out of sight. 

u Tj^ere won’t be another train for three- 
quarters of an hour; you’ve just missed the 
train for Brierwood, sonny.” 

Yes, sir, I knew we missed it.” 

‘^Were you boys to have been in the 
party that are going to Mr. Clover’s place 
to-day? ” asked the man. 

Yes, sir.” 

That’s too bad; they all met here under 
the charge of a young man and took that 
train which you’ve just missed. What’s 
your name, sonny? ” 


196 


“ CLOVER HOUSE ” 197 

Mine’s Tommy Ryan, Ms is Matty 
Beatty, an’ Ms is Jakey Wise. I told dose 
fellers dat dey would be late.” 

Tommy Ryan thrust both hands in his 
pockets and regarded his companions with 
an air of mingled wrath and disappoint- 
ment. Matty, a red-haired lad with great 
brown freckles, head and shoulders over 
Tommy, looked sheepishly at the station 
agent and then dropped his eyes. 

Jakey Wise, however, an eager, bright- 
eyed little Hebrew, took a step nearer and 
whispered in Tommy’s ear. 

Couldn’t we walk it. Tommy? ” 

’Course we’ll walk it,” said Tommy, 
come on, you fellers.” 

Don’t walk on the tracks, boys,” said 
the man, you’ll find a short cut to Brier- 
wood through a stretch of woods at the 
end of that road.” 

'' T’anks,” said Tommy, his little wiz- 
ened face lighting as he took a jump off the 
platform and across the tracks to the road 
that the station agent had pointed out, fol- 
lowed closely by the other boys. 

When they reached the road, they met a 


198 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

man driving an empty hay-cart and 
Tommy, as the spokesman of the party, 
asked the driver of the team if they might 
ride on the back. Upon being told to 
jump in,’’ the three boys scrambled in 
as fast as six little lively legs could scram- 
ble, and the disappointment of losing the 
train was forgotten. 

Dis is what I call luck,” said Tommy. 

‘‘ Hurray,” shouted Matty, basking in 
the smiles of his small leader once more,— 
dis makes me t’ink of going to fight In- 
dians; dey might be Indians over dere in 
dose woods.” 

What would you do. Mat, if we was 
goin’ along, an’ all at once two live Indians 
came out wid tommyhawks, what would 
you do? ” 

I’d run for it. Tommy. What would you 
do?” 

<< Me? ” said Tommy bravely, casting a 
half-frightened look sideways and all 
around the lonesome road, ‘‘ I’d— I’d just 
—say, yer don’t t’ink dere’s real Indians 
’round here in dose woods, do yer? ” 

‘‘No,” said Jakey, scornfully, “there’s 


CLOVER HOUSE 


199 


no more Indians in the woods; my teacher 
told us all about them, and they are all gone 
now.” 

Where are they gone? ” asked Mat. 

Wid Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, acourse; 
don’t you know nottin. Mat? ” said Tommy 
Ryan, with an air of superior wisdom. 

I wonder if Mr. Clover’s place is very 
far,” observed practical Jakey. 

Mr. Clover? ” said the driver, who had 
overheard the words. If you boys want 
to go to Brierwood, jump off now and take 
the path through the woods.” 

T’ank you,” said Jakey, as the three 
boys got out of the cart and made a straight 
line for the wood path. For nearly half an 
hour they followed the beaten path through 
the woods which brought them at last to a 
thick hedge that bordered beautiful Brier- 
wood. 

Hush,” said Matty, turning suddenly 
to his companions, I hear music.” 

Bat’s de band,” declared Tommy, 
dat’s what we missed jest ’cause you 
fellers was late.” 

How are we going to get in? ” asked 


200 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Jakey. ‘‘We could go right in, I should 
think, because we were invited; isn’t that 
so, Tonuny? ” 

“ invited! ” exclaimed Tommy, 

scornfully, “ I was invited by de feller 
what wears his hair so long in front, but 
you never was invited.” 

“ But you said that we could come. 
Tommy, didn’t you? ” asked Matty, look- 
ing first at his small leader, and then long- 
ingly over the thick hedge in the direction 
of the music. 

“ ’Course I said that you fellers could 
come,” answered Tommy, in patronizing 
tones; “ I said you could come wid me an’ 
be peekin’ in at all us fellers eatin’ de cake 
an’ t’ings.” 

“ Well, why don’t you go in and do it? ” 
asked Jakey. 

“I’m goin’,” said Tommy, giving his old 
blouse a hasty brushing, “is me face 
clean? ” 

“ No, Tommy, it’s all streaked with dirt, 
and your hair isn’t combed,” said Jakey. 

“ And yer trousers are tom in the back,” 
remarked Mat. 


« CLOVER HOUSE 


201 


Here, Tommy,’’ said Jakey, taking 
from his pocket an old red handkerchief, 
wash your face with this.” 

T’anks,” said Tommy, “ wish I had a 
comb.” 

I’ll fix your hair, Tommy,” declared 
the resourceful Jakey. I take a httle 
stick, so, and I smooth down your hair, so, 
and I wet my hand to keep it down. I use 
the little stick just like a comb — ” and, 
suiting the action to the word, Jakey pro^ 
ceeded to arrange Tommy’s toilet. 

Say, Tommy, will you come back over 
here when you get a chance and give us a 
piece of the cake or somethin’? ” asked 
Mat. 

Ask the big feller with all the hair in 
front if you can let us inside the show,” 
said Jakey, stopping in the midst of his 
arduous task of trying to improve Tom- 
my’s appearance. 

I will, sure,” answered Tommy. You 
fellers stay right here an’, if he says that 
you can come in. I’ll run all de way back 
an’ tell yer.” 

You look fine now. Tommy,” said 


202 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

J akey, standing off to admire the ef- 
fects. 

Yes, I’m all right,” and so saying 
Tommy squeezed himself through the thick 
hedge and made his way toward the soimd 
of the music and the voices, while Matty 
and Jakey threw themselves on the ground 
and followed his every step, until a grove 
of blue spruce trees shut him from their 
view. 

In a very short time. Tommy, true to his 
word, came running back, and at sight of 
their leader the two waiting lads were in- 
side the hedge before he could say one 
word. 

‘‘It’s all right! ” said Tommy. “ I told 
the big feller wid the hair an’ he says you 
could come right in, an’, say, you never saw 
anything like it in your whole life— come 
on.” 

If any one had chanced to stroll through 
the beautiful grounds of Brierwood that 
afternoon, they would have witnessed a 
gala sight. 

Long tables, placed at intervals under the 
great trees, were piled high with all sorts 


“CLOVER HOUSE” 203 

of good things, and, around the tables and 
on the lawn and imder the trees and in 
every conceivable place, were boys — big 
boys and little boys, chubby boys and 
scrawny boys, noisy boys and quiet boys, 
and mostly little newsboys. Instead of a 
Brierwood of roses it was a Brierwood of 
boys, and such happy boys! Never, since 
the first circus widened all the smiles and 
all the joys of boy- world, was there so 
much pure happiness. Smiling maids in 
snowy caps and aprons waited upon the 
hungry boys and saw that each one had his 
share of the goodies. It was rather hard 
at first for a very dignified butler to unbend 
the length of a grin, and yet this is just 
what happened when a little ragged news- 
boy pointed to a melting mound of deli- 
cious sweetness, smacking his lips, rolling 
his eyes heavenward and rubbing his small 
stomach, all at the same time. 

Sherbet, sir? ’’ said the butler. 

Sure, but I would, sir.” 

Alys and Dorothy and Mignon, in pretty 
white dresses, each holding her best doll, 
tried to help, and Mr. and Mrs. Clover and 


204 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Do-re were as busy as busy could be, look- 
ing after the welfare of the boys generally. 

Tommy Ryan was bubbling over, as it 
were, with happiness and importance, 
every now and then stopping to dig his 
little fists into Jakey and Matty, who sat 
on either side of him, saying in a stage 
whisper, What did I tell yer! Only fer 
me, you fellers wouldn’t be in on this 
party; ’twas me what asked the big feller 
wid the hair, wasn’t it now? ” 

Mat and Jakey were too busy to reply to 
these remarks, but they grinned appreci- 
atively at Tommy and also at the group of 
boys around the table. 

Did you ever have all the ice-cream 
you wanted? ” asked one little lad, turning 
to his neighbor, who was performing really 
wonderful feats with his mouth. 

Never until to-day,” was the answer. 
All at once, Mr. Clover arose to say some- 
thing and a hush fell among the noisy 
groups. The man who could produce so 
much ice-cream, for so large a gathering of 
boys, was worth listening to. There was 
no knowing what wonders he might still 


CLOVER HOUSE 


205 


perform, and they were all eager to hear 
what he had to say. Some of them thought 
that he might even tell them just how he 
did it. 

Boys,’’ said Mr. Clover, beaming all 
over those happy faces, we are all very 
much pleased to have you here to-day and 
we hope that this will be an occasion for 
each and all of us to remember as long as 
we live. But, lest there be any mistake 
about the one who first planned a royal 
good time for you boys, I want to say right 
here and now that it was this little girl.” 

Mr. Clover placed his hand on Alys’s 
curls, while cheer after cheer went up from 
the dehghted boys. 

This little girl,” continued Mr. Clover, 
has within her generous, thoughtful soul 
the wellspring, as it were, of true happiness, 
the truest and best happiness of life, boys, 
that of making other people happy.” 

Then the man went on to tell the boys 
how Alys had sent him her brand new ten- 
dollar bill to spend for the little brothers. 
Again the cheers and shouts of the boys 
rang through Brierwood and at last Mr. 


206 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Clover had to take Alys in his arms and put 
her standing on her chair while she bowed 
to the grateful boys. 

‘‘ And now, boys,’^ said the man, when 
quiet was restored, comes the surprise. 
I am going to tell you just what I shall do 
with Alys^s ten dollars as a nucleus—’’ 
Speech! Speech! ” interrupted the 
boys. 

‘‘ Yes, I’ll make a speech,” said Mr. 
Clover, laughing, but first of all I want 
to tell you about a house that I knew once 
upon a time. It was a brown house at the 
foot of a hill, with shining windows and 
broad piazzas and well-kept gardens of 
phlox and mignonette and fiaunting peo- 
nies. Lazy hollyhocks leaned against the 
clematis that climbed over the front door 
and tried to get inside an upper window, 
and before the back porch a line of strag- 
gling, tramp sunflowers stood expectantly, 
as if for a share of the plenty within. And 
the hill behind the house, how wonderful it 
was! Its beauty lured the first robin of 
spring and its spell held the last breath of 
summer; a great-hearted little hill that 


« CLOVER HOUSE” 207 

shut out the north wind but took in an out- 
cast pine and flower friends without num- 
ber. It had caught the gurgling cry of a 
stray brook one day, and had coaxed it into 
the lap of a green meadow. 

This brown house was fllled with a 
boy— a great, growing, greedy-souled boy, 
with a question always on his lips and a 
promise, sometimes, in his eyes that none 
saw but his mother. Such a greedy soul he 
was! A flock of pigeons, a nest of yoimg 
rabbits, a little dare-devil dog, a gun and a 
tool chest were not enough; a little red 
school-house and a score of happy village 
boys and girls were not enough; Robinson 
Crusoe and every magician that ever 
touched pen to paper were not enough; 
the distant, dignified academy and all the 
masters of book magic that came along 
were not enough; and at last the world of 
brown house and hill was not enough. He 
wanted a world at the end of two iron rails 
and he used to dream that it wanted him. 

The time came at last that he got this 
new world. He went into it and spent 
many, many man-years in it; but one day. 


208 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

after his dream that the world wanted him 
had come true, the man thought that he saw 
all his boy-years beckoning to him to come 
back for a last look at the brown house and 
the hill. He followed and found them again 
one summer day, after five hours’ ride on 
a steam train. He saw the hill first, warm 
and lovely as ever; all the gold in its heart 
had come out in ten thousand shining but- 
tercups, and the outcast pine, that he used 
to stone in his ruthless boy way, looked like 
a prodigal. The man turned from the hill 
and laughed at the joy of living. Then he 
sought the brown house and found it sim- 
ning itself on the roadside, forsaken and 
old, the light of its windows all gone out, 
the proud heart of it dead. There had been 
nothing for it to do, all the years, but just 
wait,— wait patiently, silently, lonely, for 
the end. The flowers were all gone, too, 
choked by bandit gypsy weeds. 

Everything was gone but a wistful 
clematis that tried in vain to hide this 
stranded wreck of time. The man pushed 
aside the vine, reverently; crept over the 
broken steps to a cracked porch, and 


“CLOVER HOUSE” 


209 


peered into a gaping window-pane. He 
saw four bare walls like tombstones, guard- 
ing the grave of a dead hearth; he turned 
away and sighed at the pain of loving. 
Now, boys, that brown house is not going 
to pass into oblivion; it is going to be 
renovated, added to, built over new, as it 
were; it’s going to be made ten times 
larger. There is going to be a great, sunny 
kitchen and a greater, sunnier dining room 
where the greatest, sunniest boys in Chris- 
tendom are going to gather three times a 
day. There’s going to be a splendid library 
and living room, with all the best books in 
the world for these boys to read. Up- 
stairs, there’s going to be the sweetest, 
cleanest, wholesomest sleeping rooms and 
bath rooms in this country. 

And outside, ah! there’s the glory of 
the whole plan! Acres and acres over 
which to romp and run and grow, and acres 
and acres to be divided into miniature 
farms which these boys are going to culti- 
vate themselves; where they can raise any- 
thing from a rose to a radish. In short this 
old brown house which made one boy 


210 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


happy, though never satisfied,— and it is 
not to be thought ill when a boy is not sat- 
isfied— never be satisfied, boys, until you 
know that you are doing the one thing in 
life for which you are fitted,— well, this old 
brown house, that I have told you about, is 
going to be a new brown house, a great 
brown house for— BOYS. 

This is one of the things I wanted to 
tell you, boys, to-day, and now we shall see 
what we can do to make this house a sum- 
mer home for boys, and not for summer 
only, perhaps; we shall see, as the scheme 
develops and we have the right men to 
help us, what we can do to make it an 
all-the-year-round house for boys who need 
a rest, who are ill, or homeless or out 
of work. It is going to be called ‘ Clover 
House.’ ” 

Three cheers for Clover House,” said 
Do-re, rising and leading the cheers, to 
which the boys responded lustily. 

Mr. Clover started to speak again, but 
for several minutes it was impossible, so 
great was the ovation he received. It 
pleased him very much to see how inter- 


« CLOVER HOUSE ” 211 

ested the boys were and how they had fol- 
lowed every word he said to them. 

When the feast was over, Do-re led the 
way into the woods for the kind of frolic 
that all boys love. 

At the close of the happy day, when Alys 
was being tucked into Mr. Clover’s big 
touring car to start for home, Dorothy and 
Mignon whispered: 

Wasn’t it a lovely, great big surprise, 
Alys? ” 

Oh! it’s a beautiful, be-oot-iful sur- 
prise! ” said Alys, and it’s going to be 
called Clover House for the dear little 
brothers. Oh! wait ’til I get home to tell 
my papa and Nora and my lovely picture- 
mother all about it.” 


CHAPTER XXn 

AN ALYS RAMBLE 

O NE bright morning Do-re knocked 
on the door of the Castle of Sun- 
shine and waited for the little girl 
inside to say enter/’ but all that he could 
hear was a woe-begone sob. He knocked 
again with both hands, and at last Alys 
opened the door. 

This place seems rather dull to-day, 

Let^s make some sunshine while we may.” 

Do-re pointed to the great sign over the 
door as he said the jingle, but his partner’s 
fair little face was still clouded. 

Are you ready, Alys, to make some 
sunshine? ” 

Yes, I suppose I could help; but I 
wanted, oh! so much, to go out this beau- 
tiful, bee-ootiful day and Nora cannot take 
212 


AN ALYS RAMBLE 


213 


me because she is too busy, and papa is too 
busy, and I’m Alys-all-alone. Oh! I wish 
that I had a real mother.” 

Or a big brother, since poor Do-re is 
no good at all,” added Do-re, with a very 
sober face. 

Oh! but you are good. Do-re,” de- 
clared Alys loyally; but you know that 
you are not my mother or my big brother; 
if you were, you would take me out to walk, 
wouldn’t you? ” 

Do-re did not answer for a moment, then 
he looked at his watch and all at once his 
face broke into one of those rare smiles that 
seemed to start right in the cleft of his 
square chin and settle in the corners of his 
kindly gray eyes. 

I believe I could do it, Alys.” 

Do what. Do-re? Oh! please tell me 
at once, it must be something lovely, I 
know.” 

Well, Alys, I have a little leisure to- 
day, and I am going to ask your father if 
I may take you out to walk. You go and 
ask Nora to put on your hat and coat. I’ll 
be big brother to-day.” 


214 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Oh! goody, goody! ’’ cried Alys, rush- 
ing out of the “ Castle of Sunshine ” to 
find Nora, while Do-re sought the musician 
and obtained his consent to give the child 
a little outing. 

When Do-re returned to the Castle, a 
few minutes later, he found Alys smiling 
and happy, but Nora, who was putting on 
the child’s coat, gave him a very short, un- 
friendly nod of recognition. 

If I might make so bold as to be axin’, 
where would you be takin’ Alys? ” said 
Nora, turning to Do-re. 

Where wouldn’t I take her if I could, 
—to the golden horn— to the end of the 
rainbow — to — where would you suggest 
that I take her, Nora? ” 

Some sinsible place, sirr, that’s all.” 

Thank you, Nora, for reminding me. I 
shall try to find such a place. Have you— 
er— one in mind? ” 

The ducks,” answered Nora, somewhat 
mollified at the young man’s evident desire 
to please her. 

Oh! not to-day. Do-re! Let us go to a 
new place to-day,” pleaded Alys. 


AN ALYS RAMBLE 


215 


Well, we’ll see what we will see; come 
along, AJys.” 

An’ look out for cars an’ otters,” said 
Nora, following them to the door, an’ re- 
mimber, sirr, that child has ne’er a sisther 
or a brother or the likes o’ one in the 
worrld.” 

Do-re’s shoulders were shaking very sus- 
piciously as he bowed gravely to Nora, and, 
taking Alys’s hand, started down-stairs. 

Nora, who really loved Alys with her 
warm Irish heart, stood at the window for 
a moment and watched them as they 
walked down the street. 

My mind misgives me,” said Nora, half 
aloud. Of the two of thim, that inner- 
cent choild has more sinse than he has, wid 
his sunshine an’ his little sisther s! If I 
had my way, I’d— well, I don’t know what 
I would do wid him.” 

In the meantime Do-re and Alys, bliss- 
fully unconscious of Nora’s misgivings, 
were sauntering along the street of the 
great apartment houses. 

We must see a green field before we 
come home,” said Do-re, and here is a 


216 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


trolley, or, rather, liere^s the coach of the 
Marquis of Carabbas. Come, Princess 
Alys, we’ll ride abroad for fifteen fairy 
minutes.” 

So saying. Do-re made a sign and the car 
stopped and Alys climbed on the front seat. 

How delightful it was to ride with Do-re ! 
His eyes were as good as fifty pairs of ordi- 
nary eyes, because he saw fifty times more 
than ordinary mortals, and fifty times bet- 
ter. Why! he could see a brown-eyed 
prince disguised as an Italian laborer; and 
a wistful-looking girl, in her old red dress, 
was in reality a princess; and a little, old 
gray man in his wagon, calling out anny- 
ould-r-rags,” had the magic carpet hidden 
away under the bags in the wagon. He 
told her the names of the great buildings 
they passed, and he told her true stories 
about them. 

Alys thought that the ride was all too 
short when at last they alighted from the 
car at a little stretch of black-stumped 
clearing, with the glimpse of a wide, sunny, 
green field beyond. 

Now I know where we are,” said Do-re. 


AN ALYS RAMBLE 217 

There is a short cut across this stretch 
of clearing that brings us to a bit of pine 
woods/’ 

When they reached the end of the clear- 
ing, however, they found a little truant 
road hiding itself behind a grove of trees. 
But they approached it with hurried foot- 
steps, for the sound of happy children’s 
voices lured them on. 

‘‘ It’s a school,” declared Do-re. ‘‘ What 
a jolly, out-of-the-way place for a school- 
house in a big city.” 

They were now near enough to witness 
a throng of lively children playing in front 
of a small brick school-house. While they 
were intent upon half a dozen games, how- 
ever, a young woman appeared at one of 
the windows and rang a bell. Almost in- 
stantly the noises ceased, the voices were 
silenced, and the busy little feet fell into 
line. In a short time the children filed, two 
by two, into the school, and Alys and Do-re 
were left alone. 

^^Oh! I’m so sorry they have gone; I 
never saw so many children and I never 
saw a school at play before.” 


218 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Would you like to go inside, Alys? ’’ 

‘‘Oh! yes, I would just love to go in and 
see them all in school.’’ 

“ Well, we’ve seen them at play; it 
would indeed be very nice to see them at 
their work.” 

So saying. Do-re took Alys’s hand and 
they went into the school yard, up the 
steps, and were just about to ring the bell, 
when a bright-faced little teacher opened 
the door. 

“ Visitors? ” she asked, with a smile 
that meant “ welcome.” 

“If we are not intruding we would like 
to visit,” answered Do-re; whereupon Miss 
Honeydew opened wide the door of her 
school-room, and invited Alys and Do-re 
in, and gave them seats on the platform. 
Alys was too happy for words because 
never in her fairy fancy had she pictured 
a school like this. 

It was a room filled with wondering, 
wiggling children, more than fifty of them, 
from tiny four with its baby fears to 
sturdy ten’s assertive years; each one a 
dominant little being, a personality known 


AN ALYS RAMBLE 219 

and respected, all of which gave an at- 
mosphere to the big, square, sunny room, 
at once royal and home-like. The box 
of red geraniums in the window looked 
as if it were the one fair place in life to 
flower. 

A group of dolls was there on a bench, 
some of them old and forlorn, some of them 
tasselled like corn, but all of them, like 
their small owners, loved and interesting. 
This room was filled with pictures, glad, 
life-pictures of fat rabbits and shaggy dogs 
and happy wigwams and other dear de- 
lights of childish eyes. In one corner of 
this interesting place stood a great, gay 
screen, showing a glimpse of a red-covered 
table on which were some books and a vase 
of flowers. What delightful possibilities 
suggested themselves at the sight of it! It 
was just the place where the queen of the 
royal room might beckon some expectant^ 
fluttering, little waif, to smuggle a sugar 
plum into a fat fist, or a chocolate cream 
into a melting mouth. There would be a 
three-fold joy! To be chosen by the queen 
herself; to be invited into the queen’s own 


220 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

parlor; and, best of all, to have smuggled 
sweets in school! 

At a word from Miss Honeydew the chil- 
dren sang the prettiest welcome song that 
Alys had ever heard. Then they read from 
an interesting story book and told the 
stories in their own dehghtful way. 

When Miss Honeydew asked them some 
questions in numbers, they answered as if 
they would rather tell than do anything 
else in life. 

I never knew that school was such a 
beautiful, bee-ootiful place,’’ whispered 
Alys. I wish I could go to school here.” 

When they had said good-bye to the dear 
little school, Alys asked Do-re if all schools 
were like that. 

All that have a teacher like Miss Hon- 
eydew,” answered Do-re; the teacher 
makes the school, Alys dear.” 

I shall never forget Miss Honeydew,” 
said Alys, and I know that I would love 
her.” 


CHAPTER XXm 

ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 

There^s too much nonsense scattered here, 

What shall we do about it? 

Collect it for the children dear, 

They cannot thrive without it/^ 

I ’M SO glad you’ve come, Do-re,” said 
Alys one afternoon, when her part- 
ner came into the ‘‘ Castle of Sun- 
shine.” I want a story right off the reel; 
a new story, please, one that I’ve never 
heard.” 

Or that no one else ever heard, I sup- 
pose, Alys.” 

Yes, that would be lovely. I would 
like to hear about a little girl, and I want 
something funny and queer and beautiful 
to happen to her. Do you think that the 
reel could unwind a story like that. 
Do-re? ” 

I think so, Alys; this is an extraordi- 
221 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


nary reel, you know, and there is no know- 
ing just what wonderful stories may come 
off this reel.’^ 

‘‘Oh! goody! Do-re, I’m just a little 
tired and I would like to hear a long, long 
story.” 

“ I think you are more than a little tired, 
Alys, and, as the best place in the world to 
hear this story is on that sofa, you lie down 
and let me cover you with this nice warm 
afghan, and I’ll sit in the rocker beside the 
sofa and tell you the story. What do you 
think of this plan? ” 

“ Ye-es, I think that would be good, be- 
cause I’m tired.” Alys climbed on the 
sofa, laid her little curly head on the pillow, 
while Do-re covered her up snug and warm. 
Then, taking the bow of his violin, he 
placed it lightly on her forehead. 

“I’ve touched you with my magic wand, 
fair Princess, therefore you must close 
your eyes and, as you are under the pro- 
tection of the fairies, you may do all the 
sweet, impossible things you please, and 
you may visit all the dear, impassable 
places we choose.” 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 


223 ' 


Where are we going, Do-re? ’’ 

Hush! You mustn’t open your eyes 
until I finish the story, don’t forget that, 
Alys.” 

‘‘ No, Do-re, I won’t forget again. See! 
both my eyes are shut and I’ll remember to 
keep them shut.” 

Then Do-re sat in the rocker, took up his 
violin and, drawing the bow ever so lightly, 
began to sing: 

Two sleepy eyes and two weary sighs 
And two little tired feet; 

Where is the best cuddling place they can rest, 
Where, but in Slumberland sweet? 

Then, it’s ho! te the skies with soft lullabies. 

Ho! for the man in the moon; 

Aboard for the stars in Cloudland cars. 

When the whistle’s just a croon. 

See funny faces in sunny places, 

On the road to Dream-a-while ; 

Dear Wonderland and Blunderland, 

Where mince pie Princes smile. 

“ Where girls and boys buy fairy toys. 

Where Topsy-turvy hides, 

With Goldilocks and Jack-in-the-box, 

And Goosey-Gander guides. 


224 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


To Wonderland — to Bliinderland, 

Here’s Ho! for the land of folly; 

No room for the wise, but close your eyes, 

We’re off on a moon-beam trolley.” 

When he had finished Alys opened her 
eyes. Where’s the story, Do-re? I’m 
waiting, please.” 

I’m quite ready, Alys; we’ll start for 
Blunderland, or rather the reel is going to 
unwind a story about a little girl, with 
golden curls and big blue eyes, named Alys, 
who looked just like you; and a great big 
boy, called Do-re, who looked just like 
me.” 

Oh! Groody! Did the Alys in the story 
look just like me. Do-re? ” 

Exactly, even to an interrogation point 
made out of a rosebud where a little mouth 
ought to be.” 

Oh! Groody! Gl-oody! Begin, please, 
Do-re.” 

Once upon a time, on a drowsy after- 
noon, Do-re took Alys’s little hand in his 
own and together they walked over green 
fields and through deep woods and up high 
mountains and down brown hills, until they 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 225 

came to the queerest place in all the world. 
It was called the kingdom of Blunderland 
and was ruled over by King Thoughtless 
and a band of the merriest, j oiliest, drollest 
subjects in the wide world. Just as soon 
as Alys and Do-re set foot in Blunderland 
they saw a white goat coming toward them, 
nibbling the grass as he went along. 

‘ Good afternoon, Mrs. Goat,’ said 
Alys. 

^ I’m Mr. Goat, if you please,’ said the 
goat, who stopped nibbling to look at Alys 
serenely. ‘ Have you seen Billy and Nanny 
and Little Kid on your way? ’ asked Mr. 
Goat. 

‘ Nr Mr. Goat, we have not,’ said Alys. 
‘ Are they lost? ’ 

‘ They are travelling, which means the 
same to a goat; I’ll tell you how it hap- 
pened:— 


“ Listen, my children, and I will tell 
The wonderful things that once befell 
A worthy family of five, 

Who even now may be alive. 

Alive and bucking, Tis all the same 
To a goat that is worthy of the name. 


226 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


On a grassy slope ’neath an acorn tree 
(The grass was green, as grass should be) 
Lived Mr. Goat, who loved a scramble. 
And Mrs. Goat, who liked to ramble, 

And Billy Goat, a frisky boy. 

And Nanny Goat, her father’s joy. 

But, last and best, was Little Kid, 

Who learned, as other babies did. 

That well bred goats may backward walk, 
And chew their words, before they talk. 

“ Now it turned out one summer’s day. 

While Little Kid was hard at play. 

And Billy Goat was nibbling at 
A dainty bit of old felt hat. 

That Mr. Goat arose in pride. 

And called his family to his side. 

^ The time has come at last,’ said he, 

‘ That we go forth the world to see.’ 

^ Ba-a-a,’ said Mrs. Goat, ^no doubt. 

That book of travel, you dug out 
The ash heap and ate up for tea. 

Has caused this roaming fit in thee. 

But I am ready, come my dears. 

Now, children, put away all fears.’ 

And, saying thus, the goats went down 
To take a car and see the town. 

There was no harm nor need to chide. 

As men know well a goat can ride. 

Straight to the car-barn went they then. 
They never stopped for motor men. 

But jumped on the trolley, away they flew. 
Over the street, down the aven-oo; 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND m 

The boys cried out ‘ hurray ! — hurray ! ^ 

‘ Get out/ said the goats, ‘ right out of the way/ 
On, on, they rushed, nor never stayed 
For frantic man, for hobbling maid. 

For folks who waved an umbrella. 

And said ^ white post,’ the goat said ^ yeller.’ 
Police gave chase, the goats cried ‘ choo. 

Get out of the way, you fellows, you; 

Or else we’ll cut you right in two.’ ” 

The goat stopped suddenly and looked 
very hard at Alys. ■ Is that all? ’ said Alys. 
‘ Oh! please tell me what became of them.^ 
<< ‘ Why, we jumped off the car while it 
was in motion and, of course, that landed 
us in Blunderland. Now I must go and see 
if I can find the rest of my family.’ 

^ Alys,’ whispered Do-re, when the 
goat had disappeared, ^ in order to present 
ourselves at the court of this King, we must 
be eligible, which means that we must 
make a blunder of some sort; not on pur- 
pose, of course, but just in sheer thought- 
lessness. Now what do you suggest? ’ 

‘ I don’t know what to suggest,’ said 
Alys, ‘ it’s hard to make a blunder when 
you are thinking.’ 

‘ Wise little Alys! To have gained so 


^28 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

much wisdom were worth ten journeys to 
Blunderland! ’ 

“ ^ Cannot you suggest something, 
Do-re? ’ 

<< ( Together, I’m afraid we would never 
make a blunder; therefore, dear partner, 
we’ll separate. You go your way, and I’ll 
go mine, and we’ll see what will happen.’ 

Alys tripped away with a laugh, and 
skipped over the fields ’til she came to a 
haystack^ under which Boy Blue was fast 
asleep. Alys bent over him and sang 
softly:— 


“ Little Boy Blue, 

Come blow your horn, 

The lamb’s on the table. 

The cob’s on the corn.” 

Boy Blue rubbed his eyes and then, 
jumping to his feet, began to blow the horn 
loudly. In a minute a cow, with great 
brown wings, fiew right down on the hay- 
stack, and began to warble ‘ moo-oo-oo ’ in 
so ludicrous a manner that Alys burst out 
laughing. ^ I never knew, before, that cows 
had wings,’ said Alys, laughing harder 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 229 

than ever; ‘ where, oh! where, did a cow 
get wings'? ’ 

‘ In the sky, of course,’ said Boy Blue, 

^ don’t you remember that the cow jumped 
over the moon? ’ 

‘‘ But Alys, who was in a hurry, did not 
wait to hear his answer. It is strange, but 
in Blunderland one is always in a hurry. 
Alys ran on until she came to a great cal- 
dron boiling over a gypsy fire. A very 
stern-looking lady, in corkscrew curls and 
gold-bowed glasses, was turning the con- 
tents of the great black pot with a huge 
ladle; she stopped for a moment and, look- 
ing at Alys over her glasses, said tartly:— 

“ My name is Miss Fetters, 

Please bow to your betters.’^ 

^ Will you please tell me what you are 
boiling in that great black kettle? ’ said 
Alys, making a low bow. 

‘ Blunders, child. Sugar— coffee— tea 

— salt — clothes-pins — onions — matches 

— watches — umbrellas — bellows — ’ta- 
ters — rice — all borrowed from neighbors 


230 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


(and that’s not nice) and the borrowers 
forgot to return them.’ 

Miss Fetters raised a warning finger 
and said, ‘ Don’t you ever borrow and for- 
get to return what you have borrowed, will 
you? ’ 

‘ No, indeed! ’ declared Alys. 

Then Miss Fetters opened a leather 
bag that hung from her waist. ‘ Take a 
peep, Alys.’ 

Alys looked inside the leather bag and 
saw piles and piles of letters, some of them 
tied with ribbon. ^ What kind of letters 
are those. Miss Fetters? ’ 

‘ Blunders, Alys. The kind that were 
better not written, or, if they must be writ- 
ten, used at once to kindle the fire.’ Sha- 
Idng the great leather bag at Alys, she 
cried:— 


If you write these foolish letters 
You must reckon with Miss Fetters. 

And Miss Fetters, she will get you if 
you don’t watch out. ” 

“ ‘ Mercy,’ cried Alys, ‘ I’ll never! 
never! ’ 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 231 

Alys, who was half afraid of Miss Fet- 
ters, did not wait to hear any more, but 
hurried on her way, till she met a queer 
little boy, who was tossing his bright cap 
into the air and shouting with laughter. 
When he saw the little girl he started to 
run away from her, but Alys, who could 
run very fast, soon overtook him. ‘ Why 
do you run away? I will not hurt you,’ said 
Alys. ‘Won’t you please tell me who you 
are? ’ 

“ ‘ I’m Peter the Piper,’ said the boy, 
twisting his cap. 

“ ‘ What do you do, and where you go- 
ing? ’ asked Alys. 

“ ‘ I’m a messenger boy for Queen Dis- 
cord, who, as every one knows, lives in 
Blunderland. I’m on my way now to get 
some discord for her. I make frequent 
trips and always come back with a good 
supply, because they like discord in Blun- 
derland.’ 

“ ‘ How funny! ’ exclaimed Alys, ‘ but, 
oh! please let me go with you and learn 
how you do it.’ 

‘‘ ‘ You see, this bag made of skin, hang- 


232 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


ing around my neck, is a fairy bag,’ said 
Peter, ‘ and, no matter how much goes into 
it, it cannot get an inch larger or an ounce 
heavier. Come along, Alys, and I’ll show 
you just how I do it. ’ 

All at once they heard loud barking. 
‘ ’Tis the watch-dog’s honest bark,” ’ 
quoted Peter, but no sooner had he said the 
words than there was a terrible uproar and 
Peter realized his mistake, as they came 
upon a pack of snapping, snarling, barking 
dogs. ‘ These dogs, that we supposed were 
honest watch-dogs, Alys, are only politi- 
cians; ’tis a meeting of their common coun- 
cil,’ whispered Peter. 

Just then the chairman gave a fierce 
bark, whereupon all the others howled in 
concert. When the dismal sounds were at 
the very worst, Peter opened his bag and in 
a second every barking, snarling, snapping 
dog went head-first into it, and there was 
not another sound out of them. 

Then Peter and Alys hurried on and 
caught a scolding wife, a grouchy husband, 
a croaking gossip, and any number of false 
notes, harsh words, unnatural tones, and 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 


innuendoes. He even bagged the piano 
next door, the cornet across the street, the 
graphophone up-stairs, and the hmdy- 
gurdy around the comer. ‘ I have enough 
for the present,’ said Peter, ‘ and will re- 
turn at once to Queen Discord in her castle 
at Blunderland.’ 

^ Does she really like those dreadful 
sounds? ’ asked Alys. 

‘ Like them! ’ exclaimed Peter. ^She 
will sit and play with them all day long! ’ 
So saying, Peter disappeared and Alys, 
left to herself, wandered along the road 
until she came to a great telegraph office. 
A weary operator was dozing asleep out- 
side the door, but, when he saw Alys, he 
jumped up and ran inside, reappearing al- 
most immediately with a large basket of 
telegram blunders. He began to make 
balls out of them and threw them at Alys, 
who was so frightened that she ran away 
as fast as she could. 

‘‘•‘Oh! I’m rather tired of Blunderland,’ 
sighed Alys, ‘ they don’t seem to do any- 
thing here.’ She had hardly said the words 
when a very fine house loomed right up in 


234 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


her path, and, as the doors stood invitingly 
open, Alys went inside. There was a din- 
ner party in progress and everybody seemed 
to be waiting for her. ^ I^m really very, 
sorry to have kept you waiting,’ began 
Alys, slipping into a chair, but, before she 
could say another word, a little man spilled 
his soup on her dress. He said he was very 
glad, because it was burned so badly that 
he did not want it. ‘ It is really very 
thoughtful of you, Alys,’ he added, ‘ to 
have come along just in time to catch it.’ 
Everything seemed to go wrong; there was 
too much salt in the fish, too much oil on 
the salad, and the cake was very poor in- 
deed. 

‘‘ Alys was glad to slip away from the 
dinner party as soon as possible; blunder 
dinners do not make one happy. She walked 
along until she saw a great black castle 
surrounded by a high wall. An air of 
gloom hung over the place, and Alys shiv- 
ered as she read over the entrance, in large 
letters, ‘ Abode of Sad Blunders.’ There 
was a broad avenue leading to it, at the 
end of which was the huge sign-post. 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 235 

^ Fatal Ignorance.’ ^ Wliat a queer name 
for a street! ’ said Alys. ^ I wonder what 
it means! ’ but, as there was no one on duty 
to explain, and as Alys found the Abode 
of Sad Blimders a very melancholy place, 
she hurried quickly on her way; not, how- 
ever, until she had caught a glimpse of a 
girl rocking a boat, a man trying to blow 
out the gas, a maid lighting a fire with ker- 
osene, and a small boy with a gun. 

^ I want to go home,’ declared Alys; 
^ there is no fun in Blunderland, at all.’ 

‘‘ ‘ Isn’t there! ’ said a voice full of 
laughter. ‘ You haven’t seen Miss Fits 
yet.’ 

‘ Where is she? ’ asked Alys, address- 
ing the voice, because, although she looked 
all around, she could not see anybody. 

^ I’ll direct you to Miss Fits,’ and 
there, at her elbow, stood a great boy. 

‘ I’m John Jr.,’ he said by way of introduc- 
tion, and then looked at Alys with a most 
dejected air. 

‘ Is anything wrong? ’ asked Alys. 

‘ These,’ said John Jr., pointing to his 
clothes. ‘ Miss Fits makes them out of 


236 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


father’s/ Then he began to make ^ cart 
wheels ’ and seemed to forget all about his 
clothes, when suddenly the funniest woman 
Alys had ever seen appeared right in his 
path. 

John Jr.,’ she exclaimed, shaking a 
pair of great shears at him, ‘ don’t you dare 
grow another inch; people must be made to 
fit their clothes, isn’t that true, Alys? ’ 

‘ I thought — that is — I always sup- 
posed that clothes must be made to fit peo- 
ple.’ 

‘‘ At this remark Miss Fits burst into 
uncontrollable laughter. ‘ Come with me, 
Alys, and you will never make that foolish 
blunder again.’ 

So saying. Miss Fits escorted Alys to 
a place which she called the field of fashion. 

There were short people, tall people, 
thin people, fat people, old people, young 
people, lean people, crabbed people, funny 
people, sunny people, mad people, sad peo- 
ple, sweet people, neat people, and just 
people; but they all looked, or rather tried 
to look, the same. 

‘ These are my patrons,’ said Miss Fits, 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND m 

with a wave of her hand, ‘ and I can always 
depend upon them. Catch them not ma- 
king themselves to fit my clothes — the 
idea! ^ 

She shook her shears with so much in- 
dignation that Alys ran away as quickly as 
she could. 

All at once she came upon a strange 
scene. Sitting beside a small table, on 
which were bottles and boxes, sat Jack 
Croaker, with both feet in a pail of water. 
He held a thermometer in one hand and a 
book in the other. 

‘ How you do, sir,’ said Alys, with her 
best bow. 

‘ Poorly, child, very poorly.’ 

‘ Are you ill? ’ asked Alys. 

He nodded affirmatively. 

‘ What seems to be the matter, sir? ’ 

^ Patent-medicine-mania.’ 

‘ Oh-h-h, that is dreadful! I’m so sorry. 
Where do you feel it, please? ’ 

^ Everywhere! all over me! It’s only 
a question of time, Alys, only a question of 
time, and it’s all over with me! ’ 

^ Me, too,’ sighed Alys. 


238 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

‘ Only a question of time, Alys, only a 
question of time when this germ hive will 
cease to thrive. Hi! there! pass me that 
largest bottle quickly, Alys; delays are 
dangerous, this may be a crisis! ’ 

Alys seized the bottle as fast as her 
two little hands could encompass it, and 
placed it before Jack Croaker. He poured 
out a few drops in a glass and drank it 
quickly, then swallowed three pellets and 
one tablet. 

“ After this, he took his temperature, 
felt his pulse, studied the whites of his eyes 
in a tiny mirror, looked at his tongue, dis- 
infected his whiskers and punched himself 
on the chest three times. 

‘ Is it a game? ’ asked Alys. 

‘ Aye, that it is, Alys, a game with 
life.’ 

‘ But you won, sir, that time, didn’t 
you? ’ said Alys, clapping her hands, 
‘ that’s why you punched yourself, isn’t 
it?’ 

^ Aye, that’s the reason! As long as 
I punch myself it’s all right; when some 
one else punches, it’s all wrong.’ 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 


‘‘ ‘ In this game did you ever kick your- 
self, by mistake, sir? ’ 

“ ^ ALYS! the man who kicks himself 
never makes a mistake. ’ 

But she did not wait to hear what he 
was going to say, because he had called her 
name in so sepulchral a voice that she ran 
as fast as her two little legs could carry 
her. 

On her way she met scores of beings 
who were afflicted with either Patent-med- 
icine-mania or Latestfadis. They did all 
sorts of curious things, from taking mud 
baths to sliding down the water-spout. 

Suddenly Alys saw a funny sight. A 
little woman in a poke bonnet and with a 
green umbrella was rushing madly up and 
down and all around, looking first at the sky 
and then at her feet and peering into cor- 
ners, waving her green umbrella, and acting 
for all the world like a clown at the circus. 

For a moment Alys watched her, fas- 
cinated. Then, thinking she might be of 
use, Alys approached and asked in her 
sweetest tone— 

‘ Have you lost anything, please? ’ 


240 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

‘ Yes— yes— yes! ’ 

‘ What have you lost? ’ 

‘ My wits! Oh! dear! and I cannot 
find them! What shall I do, what shall I 
do! ^ 

^ I will try to help you find them,’ said 
Alys. ^ Are you quite sure that you’ve 
lost them here ? ’ 

‘ Surely, child, for this is Blunderland, 
and there ’re fifty people on the other side 
of that hill, looking for theirs.’ 

‘ Take my hand,’ said Alys, ^ and we’ll 
try to find your poor wits.’ 

The lady in the poke bonnet took 
Alys’s hand, and then followed the mad- 
dest, merriest, funniest, queerest fiight that 
any little girl ever experienced. 

They walked right on the heads of a 
crowd of people. They flew over chimneys 
and high church steeples. They played 
see-saw on a gold plank that was balanced 
on the new moon. They hop-skipped the 
whole length of a colored railroad in the 
sky and found that it was only the rain- 
bow! 

They hurried through the land of 


ALYS IN BLUNDERLAND 241 

witches and goblins. They dodged the old 
woman who rides through the air on a 
broomstick, and at last, weary and breath- 
less, they landed at the door of a small 
white cottage, right at the foot of a little 
green hill. 

‘ This is my home,’ said the woman 
who had lost her wits. ‘ Come in and rest, 
Alys dear.’ 

She opened the door, and there were 
the lady’s precious wits, five of them, wait- 
ing for her. She wept tears of joy as she 
introduced them to Alys. 

The little girl made a short visit at the 
home of the dear old lady who had found 
her wits, and then hurried back to Blun- 
derland. 

The very first person she saw was 
Do-re, who seemed to be waiting for her. 

She waved her hand and called to him, 
but he was laughing so hard that he never 
noticed her for a whole minute. 

‘‘ ‘ You come with me, Alys; you’re go- 
ing to catch it! ’ 

‘ Where are we going. Do-re*? ’ 

^ To King Thoughtless, who rules over 


242 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


this Kingdom. He’s very angry with you, 
Alys.’ 

^ But, why— what have I done. Do-re? ’ 
^ You have been helping his subjects 
find their wits. It is against the laws of 
Blunderland.’ ” 

Suddenly Do-re stopped and looked very 
hard at Alys. Then he arose and tiptoed 
out of the room, closing the door softly be- 
hind him. 



“ ‘ THANKS BE THAT MY TIM IS A MAN AND NOT A MOOSICHEN 


7 77 




CHAPTER XXIV 

“A LOVE OF A LOCKET” 

there’s wan thing I’m 
V/V/ thankful for, this blessed day,” 
said Nora, polishing a brass 
kettle with all her might. ‘‘ Thanks be 
that my Tim is a man an’ not a moosichen. 
He has tune enough in him to whistle Ma- 
voumeen, an’ that’s enough for me. Av all 
the onsartin creatures that daze a dotin’ 
public, these moosichens are the worst.” 

Why, Nora, what is the matter? ” 
asked Alys, when Nora had relieved herself 
of a portion of the indignation that threat- 
ened to choke her, if one might judge by 
appearances. 

Matther enough! Here am I workin’ 
like a slave, wid never a bit o’ time ter me- 
self at all, an’ didn’t the masther tell me 
I could go out to-day, and didn’t I tell Tim 

243 


244 , 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


I was goin’ ter meet Mm, an’ wasn’t I 
countin’ on it to go an’ buy the ring wid 
him, an’ not five minutes ago a telegram 
comes, then a long-haired chap that med a 
face at me whin I let him in, an’ the mas- 
ther’s fairly woild over it, an’ he says it’s 
very important an’ he must go at once. It 
manes everything to him, he says ter me; 
an’ he doesn’t think that I want ter meet 
Tim, an’ it manes everything ter me.” 

But papa had to go, Nora; it must 
have been something about his music.” 

Music! It was about those papers that 
looked as if a hen had made ink thracks all 
over them, for he gathered them up an’ put 
them in his pocket before me very eyes. If 
that’s music, no wondther a hen can’t 
sing.” 

Oh, perhaps it was something about 
papa’s opera, his little music story; be- 
cause Do-re told me that was finished! 
But I’m real sorry, Nora, you can’t go to- 
day, and I’m sure papa will tell you to go 
some other day, when he can spare you.” 

He’s a moosichen, and they’re sure o’ 
nothin’ but their own whims, I tell yer. He 


“A LOVE OF A LOCKET” ^5 

takes that old fiddle and squeaks on it till 
my head is giddy with thumps.” 

‘‘ Why! Nora, my papa has a beautiful 
straddle various, Do-re told me all about 
it.” 

Ah! then that same lad’ll have a strad- 
dle various if he doesn’t keep out o’ my 
way, wid his reel, an’ his little sisthers,— 
the whole thribe o’ thim ought to be put in 
the museem, like so many spicimins, an’ 
the public warned be a sign ter ^ handle wid 
care.’ That’s what I’d do with Do-re, and 
me-fa, an’ every mad moosichen that’s run- 
nin’ loose fer want iv a hair-cut.” 

‘‘ Well, Tim has his hair cut, hasn’t 
he? ” ventured Alys, hoping to appease the 
wrath of this hot-headed maid. 

Tim is a man! every inch of him, 
thanks be! ” 

Suddenly Nora’s voice changed to a 
moan. 

An’ only think o’ him, waitin’ an’ 
waitin’ an’ waitin’, this day. It’s enough 
ter make a dacint man get a devoorce be- 
fore he’s married at all. It’s terrible, 
that’s what it is,” and Nora, overcome by 


246 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


her feelings, dropped into a chair and 
began to cry. 

Oh, please don’t cry, Nora,” begged 
Alys, her blue eyes filling in childish sym- 
pathy, ‘‘ I love you, Nora, and I love Tim, 
’though I’ve never seen him, and it’s 
nice of Tim to cut his hair, an’— an’— oh! 
Nora, some day me and you’ll go to the 
park an’ have a lovely time, won’t we, 
Nora? ” 

We will, darlin’,” said Nora, wiping 
her eyes, indade, if it wasn’t for yer own 
swate self I’d light outer here to-day.” 

But you wouldn’t leave me, would you, 
Nora; ’cause you know I’m Alys-all-alone, 
and have no mother, like other little girls, 
and papa is good and I love him, but he’s 
busy all the time, and he’s thinking so hard 
about his music, he doesn’t even see me 
sometimes. Oh! Nora, if you went away, 
who’d dress me, and take me out every day 
to walk? ” 

Who, darlin’, I dimno; but run away 
now, Alys, till I finish me work.” 

The child ran out of the kitchen and was 
just going into her Castle of Simshine ” 


LOVE OF A LOCKET” 247 

when a sudden impulse made her turn her 
footsteps to her father ^s room. 

He was dressed for the street, and 
seemed to be in a hurry; but he gathered 
Alys in his arms, and kissed her again and 
again. 

I haven T seen much of my little girl 
lately, have I, darling? I’ve been very 
busy, but after to-day I’ll have more time, 
and we will go to see those ducks and have 
a whole day together.” 

Oh! goody! ” cried Alys. 

And now I must hurry away, dear; but 
you may play in here if you wish— and, 
Alys dear,” whispered papa, coming back 
to kiss her again, perhaps we shall go and 
find that dear old house back of the road 
sooner than I expected.” 

The musician laughed softly. He was in 
rare good spirits. 

I must go now, Alys. Stay in here 
if you like, and you may have anything you 
want to play with.” 

Anything? Oh! papa, may I have the 
beautiful locket that you keep in the little 
drawer? ” 


248 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


For a second the man hesitated, then he 
went quickly to his desk and brought forth 
the case. He took out the locket and fast- 
ened the chain around her neck. 

There, darling, wear it all day if you 
like, but take good care of it and donT 
lose it.’^ 

He kissed her again and hurried away, 
while Alys ran to find Nora and show her 
the beautiful locket. 

‘‘Oh! what a love of a locket! ’’ ex- 
claimed Nora, looking at it hastily; “ run 
away now, darlin’, for it’s Nora that’s busy 
this day.” 

Then a happy thought came to Alys; she 
would show the locket to her beautiful 
“ picture mother.” 

She went quickly to the closed room. It 
was never locked now, because the child 
went in there almost every day, and no one 
knew anything about it. 

“ See, mother, see what my papa gave 
me to wear all day. Isn’t it a most beau- 
tiful locket for your little Alys-girl? ” 

She stood before the picture and held up 
the gold locket. Oh! those wonderful eyes! 


‘‘A LOVE OF A LOCKET” 249 

It seemed to Alys that they really smiled at 
her. She could almost see those beautiful 
lips move. 

Oh, if you would only talk to me and 
tell me that you will be my own mother,’’ 
cried Alys, if you would only come down 
from that picture and stay with me a little 
while, or take me in it with you. Oh, do 
take me with you, and we’ll walk together 
’way back there to your great dark castle.” 
Alys placed her hand on the dark back- 
ground of the picture, about which her 
childish imagination had fancied many 
things. 

Please, mother, let me go with you; I 
would like to walk beside you. May I walk 
with you ’way back there in the dark, and 
go to your lovely castle? Oh! mother, do 
let me go to your lovely castle! You will, 
some day, won’t you, mother? 

Isn’t my locket beautiful? 

Yes, I’m quite a lady now, with a gold 
locket around my neck, and I’m walking up 
and down the street now. 

And now I’m in the park. Oh, see 
those funny ducks! 


250 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


I have a mother, haven’t I, just like 
Dorothy Clover and every little girl? 

Good-bye, mother; I’m going out. 
Don’t I look beautiful with my locket 
around my neck? 

‘‘ Did you ever see such a ^ love of a 
locket! ’ ” 


CHAPTER XXV 

THE LOSS OF A LOCKET 

I N the afternoon, when Alys went out 
to walk with Nora, the locket was very 
much in evidence, as it hung from the 
bright gold chain around the child’s neck. 

Every now and then she held it proudly 
in her hand, and wondered if all the people 
they met knew that she wore a beautiful 
gold locket. 

But Nora, brooding over the disappoint- 
ment of not being able to have her usual 
afternoon out, and meet her sweetheart, 
did not have anything to say about it. She 
was very quiet, and, when they reached the 
park, sat listlessly on one of the benches, 
watching Alys marking out a square to 
play hop-scotch. 

Once the little girl spoke to her, but the 
maid’s thoughts at that moment were so 
very far away that she never heard. 

251 


252 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


All at once Nora straightened up and 
called Alys to her side. 

Alys, darlin’, IVe just been thinkin’ 
what’s ter hinder me leavin’ yer here for a 
couple o’ minutes, until I do a little errand. 
Now, would ye mind, darlin’, if I left yer 
here for a little while,— I’ll be gone only a 
very short time at the most, an’ I can go 
twice as quick widout you, an’ yer could 
play lovely right here till I get back, 
couldn’t ye? ” 

Oh yes, Nora, I’ll play hop-scotch.” 

Yes, darlin’, an’ if yer get tired just 
sit on this bench an’ stay right here till I 
come back; now will you do that for your 
own Nora? ” 

Alys was very much interested in her 
play, but she stopped long enough to prom- 
ise that she would stay right there, and 
Nora almost ran in her excitement and 
haste to catch a car and head off, if possible, 
her sweetheart, who was expecting to see 
her that afternoon. 

The maid had been gone about five min- 
utes when Alys was interrupted in her 
pretty game by an old woman, wearing a 


THE LOSS OF A LOCKET 253 

gray shawl, who seated herself on the 
empty bench. Alys smiled at the new- 
comer without stopping her game. 

Hello, dearie,’’ said the stranger, I’m 
a poor old body, dearie, an’ I’m goin’ ter 
sit right here an’ watch yer play, yer play 
so nice; but ye’re not here all alone, are 
ye, pet? ” 

Oh! no,” answered Alys, I came here 
with Nora, but she’s gone on an errand, and 
I must stay right here till she comes back.” 

An’ Nora takes care o’ yer, doesn’t she, 
dearie, an’ brings yer out ter walk here 
every day? ” 

Almost every day. You see, Nora is 
very busy, she has a great deal to do, and 
sometimes I can’t go out, so I have to stay 
in the house and play in my Castle, the 
‘ Castle of Sunshine and Cheer.’ ” 

An’ yer sisters an’ brothers are playin’ 
here about, are they, dearie? ” 

Oh! no,” laughed Alys, I haven’t 
any brothers or sisters, I’m Alys-all-alone. 
I haven’t any truly mother yet, but I think 
I’ll have one sometime, don’t you think 
so?” 


264 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Ohl yes, dearie; come over here and 
sit by me and 111 tell you a secret.’’ 

What is it, please? ” whispered Alys, 
sitting on the end of the bench, and regard- 
ing her visitor with interest. 

She had very black eyes, small and beady, 
did this old woman, and a queer little 
way of nodding her head every time she 
spoke. 

I’ll tell yer, dearie; but first let me see 
yer beautiful locket. My! but isn’t it a 
grand locket for a little girl; let me see, 
dearie, whose picture is inside.” 

Oh! ” cried Alys, very much excited, 

I didn’t know there was a picture in 
it.” 

All at once the old woman touched the 
side of the locket and it fiew open. 

‘‘ Why! it’s the picture lady! ” ex- 
claimed Alys, gazing at the beautiful face 
in the locket. That’s my make-believe 
mother, you know, the picture in the closed 
room at home, and I didn’t know you could 
open it.” 

Yes, yes, dearie; let me take it oflE a 
minute, and shut it up nice for you.” 


THE LOSS OF A LOCKET 255 

The old woman’s hands fairly trembled 
to get hold of that gold locket, but Alys said 
quickly: 

You mustn’t take it off because I 
might lose it, you know.” 

No, dearie, you mustn’t take it off, you 
might lose it,” mumbled the strange old 
woman. ‘‘I’ll fix it tight for you. I’ll see 
if it’s fastened good and tight. Turn 
around, pet, that’s a dearie. Oh! see those 
lovely birds fiying up in the sky over your 
head, and now they’re gone, away over 
those bushes; an’ see yer nice play there 
all marked out for yer, an’ I’ll come back 
in a minute. I’ll come back.” 

The old woman walked hurriedly away, 
mumbling to herself, leaving Alys looking 
first at the sky, then at the bushes and 
lastly at her game of hop-scotch. 

“ I don’t see any birds at all,” said Alys. 
“ I wonder where they went,” then, glan- 
cing down suddenly, she saw that her locket 
was gone. 

“Oh! my locket! where is it? ” she cried, 
looking around her. “ Why! the old lady 
took it off and forgot to put it back! Oh! 


256 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


I must tell her! ’’ and Alys started to run 
swiftly. 

She saw the old woman a little distance 
ahead, and shouted, Wait a minute! Oh! 
please! you’ve got my locket! ” but the old 
woman never turned, and kept steadily on, 
almost running in her efforts to get away. 

All at once the gray shawl disappeared 
behind some bushes, but Alys ran bravely 
on till she reached them, only to find that 
there was not a trace of the shawl to be 
seen. 

For a minute the child stood perfectly 
still, then, as the loss of her beautiful locket 
fiashed upon her, the tears started in her 
blue eyes and rolled down her cheeks. 

She hurried on, however, hoping to see 
the old woman somewhere, and, after a 
while found herself in the crowded street. 

Once she thought she spied a gray shawl. 
It made her quicken her steps and turn into 
another street, but the wearer of the shawl, 
upon close inspection, proved to be a muc'*' 
younger woman. 

Alys turned away, not knowing in the 
least where she was going. 


THE LOSS OF A LOCKET 257 

When she grew tired watching the 
crowds of people, she looked into the shop 
windows and wondered about all the things 
she saw there. 

She had quite forgotten about Nora and 
the bench in the park where she had prom- 
ised to wait. Indeed, she half expected that 
Nora would appear shortly and take her 
home. 

She was gazing into a large plate glass 
window at some beautiful wax ladies, 
whose hair was coiled in all sorts of odd 
ways, when a man appeared in the window 
and began to remove them, then he spread 
a cloth over some small articles and pulled 
down the curtain. 

Alys walked to another window, then 
turned and looked about her. It was get- 
ting quite dark now and people seemed to 
be hurrying home. 

''Why! it must be supper time!’’ 
thought the child. '' I wonder where Nora 
is.” 

She came to an open doorway, and, see- 
ing a long flight of stairs, went inside and 
sat on the lowest step to rest. 


258 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


The crowds rushed past, and not one of 
all the vast number glanced at the little 
figure sitting at the foot of the long fiight 
of stairs. 

Alys was tired and sat there very still 
for awhile, then she arose and started to 
walk again. She was quite fascinated by 
the rows of brilliant lights that fiashed in 
some of the store windows. 

As Alys stood gazing into a brilliantly 
lighted candy shop, she shivered with cold, 
and all at once discovered that a light fiurry 
of snow was falling. 

It was the first snow of the season and 
she watched it intently for a moment, but, 
although the wind was sharp, the fiakes fell 
scatteringly and in a short time stopped al- 
together. 

In the afternoon sunshine it had been 
pleasantly warm, but now, in the chill night 
air, her thin coat was all too light to keep 
out the cold. 

She turned from the window to walk 
again and noticed that the streets seemed 
to be getting more crowded. 

Oh! dear! I wish Nora would come, 


THE LOSS OF A LOCKET 259 

I’m so tired,” thought Alys, and the 
thought had barely flashed into her mind 
when she saw a young man coming toward 
her with a violin case under his arm. 


CHAPTER XXVI 

THE MEETING 


T T is Do-re! cried Alys, running to 
I meet Mm. Do-re, did you come for 
me? ’’ 

Why, Alys! what are you doing down 
here at tMs hour alone; how did you get 
here, child? ’’ he exclaimed, stooping to 
look into her face. 

<< Why, I wanted to catch up to the old 
lady, don’t you see, who took my locket; 
but she ran away and I couldn’t find her 
any place — my lovely locket that papa 
asked me to take good care of! Oh! isn’t 
it too bad! ” and she burst into tears as the 
recollection of it all came back to her. 

There! There! don’t cry, Alys; tell me 
all about it, like a good girl,” coaxed Do-re, 
and, little by little, between sobs and tears, 
she told the whole story. 


THE MEETING 261 

I^m SO glad you came and I’ll go home 
with you now, but you’ll get my locket, 
won’t you, Do-re? ” 

I’ll do my best,” he answered, and 
stood there in silence looking at the child. 

Here’s a pretty state of things,” he 
said, half aloud. I wasn’t going to your 
house to-night, Alys. I’ve got to play in a 
great big theatre. I’ve got to,” he repeated, 
helplessly, this is the night that Madame 
Barclaye sings.” 

Oh! take me with you,” cried Alys. 

I never was in a great big theatre in my 
life. Oh! please let me go with you. 
Do-re.” 

I think I’ll have to, and send a message 
to Nora. Come,” he said, taking her little 
hand and hurrying on. 

Is it far? ” asked Alys, as they started 
off, her little feet almost running to keep up 
to the strides of her companion. 

Suddenly her footsteps began to lag per- 
ceptibly and Do-re, looking down at her, all 
at once understood. 

Why, you poor little waif! ” he mur- 
mured, what a big, thoughtless brute I 


m ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

am! I believe you’re tired and cold, too; 
you’re shivering.” 

In a flash his coat was off and wrapped 
around her. 

Now, Alys, I’m going to let you carry 
my violin for a little while, and I’ll carry 
you, won’t that be fun! ” 

Yes,” smiled Alys, do let me take 
it.” 

In a second he had taken Alys in his 
arms, and, with his precious burden. Do-re 
hurried along, unmindful of the curious 
glances directed toward him. 

Many people, on their way to the theatre, 
smiled at the sight of a young man, in eve- 
ning dress, carrying a well-grown child 
through the streets, and more than one 
turned to look at her lovely face and the 
long sunny curls. 

At last they approached a building, the 
entrance of which was a blaze of light, and 
Alys’s little heart beat high as Do-re turned 
into the great, wide doorway. 

When they were inside, he entered a 
beautiful room, and put her down on a vel- 
vet chair. There, little one, sit here until 


THE MEETING 


263 


I come back for you. I shall be gone but a 
few minutes. 

Isn’t it a beautiful place, Do-re! ” cried 
Alys, glancing at a great mirror with a 
massive, carved frame, and the lights flash- 
ing everywhere. 

I’ll take you to a still more beautiful 
place,” he whispered, ‘‘ if you stay right 
here until I return.” So saying he caught 
up his violin and hurried away. 

A woman in a white cap and apron, who 
was dusting, smiled at Alys and pointed to 
her reflection in one of the great mirrors. 

See that little girl in there. Do you 
think she’d like to have me brush her curls 
and straighten the pretty bow? ” 

Yes, and thank you very much,” said 
Alys, while the woman removed her hat and 
began to arrange her hair. 

Just as she finished Do-re returned, his 
boyish face flushed and smiling. 

Taking Alys’s hand, he led her out of the 
gorgeous parlor, through a small passage, 
and up a short flight of stairs into what Alys 
supposed was another parlor, but which 
Do-re assured her was a box in a beautiful 


264 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

theatre, and he told her to sit there until 
somebody came for her, and in a short time 
she would hear and see something wonder- 
ful. 

Then the young musician was obliged to 
leave Alys, and she became very much in- 
terested watching the people coming in and 
taking their seats. 

After a while it seemed as if a world of 
faces was there, only a little way from her. 
But the orchestra under the stage began to 
play, and a great dark curtain went up, 
showing a bright one on which a festive 
scene was painted. 

Suddenly the music became the softest, 
faintest melody, a hush swept over the the- 
atre, as the gay curtain flew up, showing 
the stage turned into a garden where roses 
and lilies blended, and green trees waved 
over all. 

Then some one began to sing, and the 
voice, wonderfully sweet, fllled that vast 
theatre. Oh! what beautiful singing! 
Never had Alys heard anything like the 
music that issued from that clear throat. 

For a moment the child thought it was a 


THE MEETING 265 

bird that rippled and trilled, and she leaned 
forward, half expecting to see one perched 
on one of the trees, but the singer was in the 
background, and Alys could not see her. 

When the song ceased there was a mo- 
ment’s silence, then that world of faces lit 
up as one. Everybody was clapping, the 
applause was deafening. 

The little girl grew excited and moved 
nearer the railing of the box, glancing first 
at the throng of faces below her, and then 
at the stage, waiting to see who had sung 
those wonderful notes. 

All at once the shouting and applause 
grew louder, Alys’s eyes sought the stage, 
and there, not ten feet away from her, was 
the singer. She was a beautiful, golden- 
haired woman, with eyes like blue stars, 
and something misty blue clinging to her in 
soft folds and sweeping around her feet. 

But a hush had come over the vast 
throng; she was singing again, every note 
falling with bird-like sweetness on the 
great audience; but Alys, gazing as if in a 
dream, never heard. 

She forgot the theatre and that sea of 


266 ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

faces. She was in the closed room at home 
and the only thought that filled her mind 
was that the beautiful picture was alive! 
The lovely lady had stepped out of the 
frame at last, as Alys had so often begged 
her to do. 

She was real all the time! and that was 
why her wonderful eyes had followed Alys, 
and that was the reason she had smiled so 
sweetly in the closed room at home. For a 
moment the singer stepped back so that she 
was out of the range of the child ^s vision. 
Alys, fearful that she would lose sight of 
her, arose, her little heart beating fast, and 
stepped quickly on her chair. Suddenly 
the singer appeared again. Ah! she was 
coming nearer and nearer. She put out her 
arms to the child, who stood there looking 
down, every line of the small body tense and 
eager. Then the singer began to gaze at 
the box as if spellbound, and the eyes of the 
multitude, for the first time, were turned to 
the child. Gradually the woman’s note 
trailed off into silence, a deep hush fell over 
that vast audience, and a child’s voice called 
out:— 


THE MEETING 


267 


Mother! mother! ’’ 

The singer trembled. She took a step 
nearer, a frightened look in her eyes as they 
met those of the golden-haired child, who 
was leaning far out, with baby hands ex- 
tended. 

A breathless moment followed; a mur- 
mur of fear swept over the house, and men 
and women half rose in their seats. The 
next moment there was a rush for the box, 
but it was too late! The child swayed and 
fell forward on the very edge of the stage. 

For a second the singer stood there, mute 
and terror-stricken, then the people saw her 
stagger as if struck by a blow, reach the 
spot where the child lay still, and, taking 
her up tenderly, walk from the stage. 

It all happened in a moment, but the hor- 
ror of it clutched the very heart of that vast 
audience. 

People looked at each other with fright- 
ened faces, and for a moment no one spoke. 

Suddenly one of the attaches of the the- 
atre appeared on the stage, and in a few 
words assured them that no one was hurt, 
and the performance would continue. 


268 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


This announcement, relieving as it did 
the strain of uncertainty felt for the child, 
and the fear that the singer would not be 
able to go on, was warmly applauded. 
Tongues were loosened. Everybody was 
asking what it all meant, and how it had 
happened. 

Then the orchestra began to play, and the 
voices became mere murmurs as the people 
sat back to await the reappearance of the 
singer. 

In the meantime there was a very differ- 
ent feeUng behind the scenes. 

In the singer’s dressing room, on a couch, 
lay Alys, very white and still. Only once 
had her blue eyes opened for a second, 
when the beautiful singer, crying her heart 
out in half-suppressed sobs, called her by 
name. 

Kissing the child’s brow, the little white 
hands, the sunny curls, the woman seemed 
beside herself with grief. Oh! God! do 
not let her die! ” she murmured, and, bury- 
ing her face in the golden curls, she sobbed 
aloud. 

Those who were standing about did not 


THE MEETING 269 

understand the words, but the woman’s 
misery touched them, and over all was a 
silence more eloquent than words. 

They looked at the white face under the 
sunny curls, the pathetic little hands that 
had been held out so hopefully but a mo- 
ment before, and more than one turned 
away to hide the tears. 

But the audience was growing impa- 
tient. Having been assured that no one was 
hurt, they were waiting for the singer, and 
the applause, loud and continued, reached 
the dressing room back of the stage, and a 
little swarthy man, with massive head and 
shoulders, walked up and down, muttering 
and chafing at the delay. 

This was Herr von Helfman, the Great 
Von Helfman, those who were standing 
about would have told you, a leader in the 
musical world whose word was law. 

Twice he had gone to the singer and 
begged her to collect herself, but she had 
not so much as raised her head. 

Filled with rage and impatience, and 
goaded on by the noise outside in the the- 
atre, he approached her the third time. He 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


270 ^ 

wrung his hands and pleaded with her tiU, 
stung to furj^ by her silence and indiffer- 
ence, he placed his hand on her shoulder and 
commanded her to leave the child. 

G-o! ’’ he cried, go and sing! ” 

The woman shrunk from his touch as 
if it were a blow, but she arose and met his 
gaze unflinchingly. Her lips moved, and 
those who were standing there were awed 
by the look on her white face. It was as if 
some great, misty-robed angel looked down 
on that swarthy, shrinking man. 

Go on and sing! ’’ he shouted. 

I wiU never sing again,’’ she said, in a 
low voice. 

Just at that moment a young man, brush- 
ing back the brown hair from a boyish face 
white with anguish, made his way to the 
little figure on the couch, followed by the 
doctor he had summoned. 

The little group gathered around the 
couch while the physician began his work 
by feeling the child’s pulse, then, with keen 
eye and quick hand, he made a hasty exam- 
ination of the small body. 

Only the beautiful singer stood aloof and 


THE MEETING ^71 

watched his every movement with wide, 
sorrowful eyes. 

At last the doctor seemed satisfied, and, 
turning to Do-re, said, Although I have 
made only a superficial examination as yet, 
I am glad to say that there are no bones 
broken.’^ 

Thank God for that,’^ breathed the 
young man, and added in a low voice, I 
have sent for her father.’^ 

Whose child is she? ’’ asked the physi- 
cian, turning suddenly from Do-re to the 
white, stricken woman standing there as if 
in a daze. 

The question had hardly passed his 
lips when the musician walked into the 
room. 

She is mine,’’ he answered in grave, 
clear tones. 

The crowd fell back at the words, and 
made way for the man. His face was very 
pale and his lips tightened as he approached 
the couch, seeing only the pathetic little fig- 
ure of his child. Dropping on his knees, he 
had taken one limp, little hand in his own 
when the woman at the foot of the couch 


272 ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

uttered a cry,— a cry less of pain than of 
wonder, and more of joy than either. 

Karl! ’’ she cried. It is Karl! It is 
my husband! ” 

At the first sound of her voice the musi- 
cian was on his feet. 

‘‘ Elaine! 

The next instant the long-separated hus- 
band and wife were clasped in each other’s 
arms. 


CHAPTER XXVn 


THE SINGER 

W HEN Alys opened her eyes in con- 
sciousness, she found herself in 
bed in a beautiful strange room, 
and, oh! the wonder of it! there was the 
woman sitting at the bedside. Alys looked 
timidly into that face, grown so dear, and 
all her childish confidence returned. 

‘‘ Are you my mother, really and truly? ” 
whispered Alys, very earnestly. 

Yes, darling.” 

Am I your own, truly little girl? ” 

Yes, darling.” 

You are my mother, just like Mrs. Clo- 
ver is Dorothy’s mother? ” 

‘‘Yes, darling.” 

“ And you won’t go away from me; you 
won’t go into the picture and never talk to 
me any more, will you? ” 

“ Never, darling; I am your own true 

273 


274 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

mother and I shall never leave you again, 
and, when you are better, we are going 
home to live always with Daddy.’’ 

Oh! it seems too good, and, still, I 
always knew that I was going to find you,” 
whispered AJys with a contented little sigh. 

May I call you mother right out loud, and 
talk to you all the time? ” 

You may call me ‘ mother ’ forever, 
my darling; but do not talk now, dear. 
You have been very sick and the doctor 
says it is better not to talk for a few days; 
so you and I will just hold each other’s 
hands; but, when you are better, ah! then 
we’ll have ever so much to say to each 
other! ” 

Where is my papa; is he here, too? ” 

No, darling; but he has been here every 
day to see you and he is just counting the 
minutes imtil we shall all be together 
again.” 

How did I get here?” asked Alys, 
glancing around the beautiful room. 

‘‘You were very ill, Alys dear, and we 
brought you here because it was nearer 
than home.” 


THE SINGER 


275 


Is it a castle? ’’ ventured Alys. 

No, darling, it is only a room in a large 
hotel, and, when you are stronger, mother 
will tell you why she was here and how it 
all happened/^ 

But, mother dear, this feels just like 
home/’ 

‘‘ I am very glad that it does, dear; but 
wait, just wait, Alys, until we are in our real 
home with Daddy. I wish I could tell you 
how lovely it will be, but we must not talk 
any more just now, darling.” 

Then the singer arose and gave the child, 
who was watching her every movement 
with the deepest interest, some white pel- 
lets that were not at all disagreeable. 

How wonderful it was, thought Alys, to 
be there in that strange room; to have a 
real mother waiting on her and talking to 
her, just as real mothers always do when 
their little girls are ill. It was such a happy 
thought, to know that, if she closed her eyes, 
those tender, blue ones would still watch 
her, that those soft hands would brush back 
her hair and tend to her lovingly. It was 
so sweet, so soothing, to have a real mother. 


276 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


that Alys’s eyes closed in spite of herself, 
and she dropped off into the most refresh- 
ing sleep that she had had since the acci- 
dent. 

On the night when Alys had lost her hold, 
and had fallen from the box to the stage, 
she had sprained her ankle and then fainted 
from weakness and exhaustion; but she 
was so white and still for a long time that 
everybody thought she had been terribly 
hurt, and the strain of it all had made her 
very ill. Then a high fever set in, and, for 
days after the exciting event, Alys tossed 
and turned on a sick bed, unconscious of her 
surroundings, calling her father and mother 
and saying many strange, wild things. 

The singer, who had never left the bed- 
side, listened to every word that fell from 
those childish lips; at times they were tor- 
ture to her. 

One morning, when the curly head was 
hotter than usual, and the little body tossed 
and turned as never before, the doctor 
looked very grave as he waited for the 
crisis that was coming. 

Alys’s words came fast that day and were 


THE SINGER 


277 


not altogether coherent. She told, in her 
little plaintive way, how lonely and dark it 
was in the closed room, and that everybody 
was busy. She was Alys-all-alone again, 
because she had no mother, and she begged 
the beautiful mother in the picture to speak 
to her. 

Every word was like a knife-thrust to 
the woman, till at last the pent-up feelings 
rushed forth in a torrent of tears, and, 
throwing herself on her knees at the foot 
of the child’s bed, the singer sobbed as if 
her heart would break. 

But at last the crisis had passed, and Alys 
was out of danger. 

One evening, when her mother bent over 
to kiss her good night, the child saw a fine 
gold chain around her neck, and, on asking 
about it, her mother drew a locket from in- 
side her dress, the exact counterpart of the 
lost locket. 

Now, isn’t that queer,” cried Alys, 
when she had told her mother all about her 
father’s locket, you have one just like 
papa’s! Is your picture in it, just like the 
other? ” 


g78 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


For answer the woman pressed the side 
of her locket. It flew open, showing the 
fine face of the musician. 

Mj; papa! isn’t that funny? ” cried 
Alys, her childish fancy highly pleased. 

And do you keep it in a lovely case in 
your drawer, just like papa? ” 

No, dear, I wear it. I have always worn 
it.” 

Then Alys saw her mother open the 
locket again and look long and steadily at 
it, her eyes full of tears. 

Alys was very quiet after this discovery, 
and many strange thoughts flashed through 
her mind. Her papa had a locket contain- 
ing her mother’s picture, and her mother 
wore a locket that held her papa’s picture, 
and yet her papa had never told her that 
she had a beautiful mother, and the locket 
seemed to make them both sad. 

Suddenly the woman put away the locket 
and, as if reading the child’s thoughts, she 
pressed her lips again and again to the puz- 
zled, childish forehead. My blessed, pre- 
cious, little girl, you wonder about these 
lockets, don’t you, darling? ” 


THE SINGER 


279 


Does it make you sorry, mother? ven- 
tured Alys. 

Sorry! No, indeed, Alys dear. For 
one little moment, when mother thought of 
the lonely years that she was away from 
Daddy, mother was sad; but that is all over 
now, darling, and mother is the happiest 
woman in all the world! ’’ 

And I am so happy, too,’^ cried Alys. 

Yes, dear; but we are not going to talk 
just yet, Alys. Bye and bye, mother will 
tell you all about it.” 


CHAPTER XXVm 

INTERLUDE 

T he following day, in the late after- 
noon, when the city was buried 
deep in snow and the north wind 
blew furiously, the musician called, to find 
Alys nestling in her mother’s arms before 
the open fire. 

Hush-sh,” whispered the singer. I 
think she is asleep.” 

He took Alys gently in his arms and car- 
ried her to a couch, and then stood there in 
silence looking at the sleeping child. 

Come and sit by the fire, Karl,” said the 
singer, drawing up a chair; ‘‘it is doubly 
cheerful to-day because the wind is so 
wild.” 

“ Cheerful, yes,” he repeated softly, 
dropping into the chair; “ but more than 
that, Elaine, it breathes home, contentment, 
love. Ah, mein engel, if I sit here with 
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INTERLUDE 


281 


thee for long I would forget that my men 
are waiting for me.’^ 

Forget it, then, at least a little while. 
Alys is only having a nap. She would be 
so happy to see you when she awakes.^’ 

I cannot stay now, Elaine; indeed, I 
had but a moment to spare; but I will sur- 
prise her to-morrow. How has she been 
to-day? Does she grow strong? ’’ 

She grows stronger every day, I think. 
She is almost well again.” 

It is the mother-love,” he mused. 

Oh, think what she has missed, Elaine! ” 
He could not see the suffering on the moth- 
er’s face when he said the words, but her 
silence made him reach for her hand and 
hold it in both of his. 

Alys says that this feels just like 
home,” said the woman with a contented 
little sigh. 

Of course it does,” returned the mu- 
sician, home is where the heart is, and a 
child’s heart is always with the mother. 
God made it so,” he observed quietly. 

Ah! Karl, we must live to show her 
what home is. I shall try to make her know 


282 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


that one little corner, where there is love 
and content, is better than all these ornate 
rooms in the world/’ 

Make her like thyself, Blaine; make her 
half so sweet, so loyal, so loving and she 
will be a woman. And to think,” he went 
on passionately, that you are giving up 
your career, your splendid success,— every- 
thing— for me! ” 

Karl, how can you speak of it, after 
what we have said to each other. Have I 
not probed that pitiful delusion, a career; 
the so-called success and all that lures the 
unthinking? Night after night, in the 
height of my success, I have cried myself 
to sleep. Ah! Karl, what doth it profit 
a woman if she gain a whole world of suc- 
cess and knows not love! I am giving up 
nothing; I am gaining’ everything, all that 
I wanted most in the world.” 

I know, I know, sweetheart. Ach Gott, 
if only I had more to give thee; if my work 
should but prove to be what I have hoped. 
But it may come yet^^ I am waiting every 
day to hear from it.” 

Do not think about it, Karl; we have 
each other and we have Alys.” 


INTERLUDE 


283 


he echoed, ‘‘the dearest child 
in all the world.” 

Then they talked of many things con- 
cerning their little one’s welfare, till the 
bell-like tones of a tiny French clock made 
the musician rise quickly and bid his wife 
a fond adieu. 

When he had gone, the singer gazed into 
the glowing embers and fell into a brown 
study, until Alys opened her eyes and, not 
seeing the expected face at her side, called, 
“ Mother, are you there? ” 

“ Yes, darling.” 

“ Oh, mother! I want to tell you what I 
thought while I was asleep. I was in a big 
boat that was rocking from side to side, 
and I was afraid that I was going to fall 
into the deep, dark water, so I called to yoti. 
I said, ‘ Mother, mother, come and take me.’ 
You ran to the edge of the deep water, and 
held out your arms. Then my papa came 
and, when you saw him, you took his hand, 
and both of you floated right over the deep 
water out to me, and papa took one of my 
hands and you took the other, and then we 
rose up in the air, all three of us, and went 


284 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


into a great dark castle where we could 
look down and see gardens filled with flow- 
ers and beautiful trees, and a pond where 
ducks were swimming around just like the 
ducks in the park. Suddenly, I saw some- 
thing bright and shining on the ground, and 
what do you suppose it was?— My locket! 
and I picked it up and ran to show it to you 
and papa.’^ 

‘‘ And so my little girl was dreaming, 
and what perfectly wonderful dreams little 
girls do have sometimes,^’ said the woman, 
as she smoothed back the child’s sunny 
curls. 

At this moment there was a knock on the 
door, and the singer left Alys’s side and 
went into the hall. In a short time she re- 
turned with a white box, opened it, and 
held out to Alys the largest bunch of violets 
she had ever seen. The whole room was 
filled with their fragrance. In the box was 
the following note:— 

For Alys from Do-re 
The ‘ Castle of Sunshine and Cheer ’ is 
very lonely without the little Princess.’’ 


INTERLUDE 


285 


That’s me,” cried Alys, Do-re means 
me,” and she proceeded to tell her mother 
all about her play-room at home, that Do-re 
had turned into a Sunshine Castle, and 
about the great sign over the door, and the 
many pleasant times they had had there 
together. 


CHAPTER XXIX 

THE SINGER’S STORY 

A LYS walked to the window in her 
mother’s room the next morning 
and looked down on the snow-cov- 
ered streets. 

I did not tell you, darling,” said the 
singer, standing beside her, that your 
father is coming to take us home to- 
day.” 

Oh! mother! ” for one instant a shade 
of disappointment spread over the child’s 
features. 

It is so nice here with you that I forgot 
all about my other home. That is because 
you didn’t live there with us; but now, 
since I’ve found you, and you are going to 
be my truly mother and live with me and 
papa, I want to go. I want to show you 
Rosamond, my beautiful doll that Dorothy 
286 


THE SINGER’S STORY 287 

Clover gave me when I went to her party, 
and all my things in the Castle, and your 
picture in the closed room, that papa 
looked at one night, you know, when he was 
feeling very sorry about something. He 
didn’t see me,” whispered Alys, lowering 
her voice as if telling a great secret; 
‘‘ I went back to bed, I did, and I cried, 
mother, just because everybody seemed 
lonesome.” 

Oh! Alys! my poor little baby! ” said 
the woman, choking back a sob. 

Something in the voice made the child 
turn her head quickly and search her moth- 
er’s face. 

You are not sorry that we are going 
home, are you, mother? ” 

No, darling,” said the woman, taking 
Alys in her arms and covering her face with 
kisses. People cry sometimes, Alys, for 
pure joy; and I am happy because you will 
never be Alys-all-alone any more. Instead 
of a picture mother you have your own lov- 
ing mother at last. Now let us see what we 
can do to have a good time, until papa 
comes for us.” 


288 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

Alys’s face beamed with smiles for she 
was very happy. The hours of that day 
went swiftly because they were freighted 
with love and pleasant thoughts and bright 
plans, and, when the late winter afternoon 
came, and her father did not appear, Alys 
quite forgot that she was going home. She 
climbed into her mother’s lap in the rocker 
before the open fire, and for a long time sat 
there just listening to the sleet on the win- 
dows. 

Mother,” said Alys, breaking the si- 
lence at last, have you a little reel in your 
head with stories wound all around it like 
Do-re? ” 

I never knew that I had, Alys; but per- 
haps if I tried very hard I might find 
one.” 

I wish you did, mother. I would love 
to hear a story about a princess who lived 
in a great castle and was loved by a prince, 
and all about it, you know.” 

Well, Alys, I’ll tell you a story about a 
very happy little princess I knew once. 
She didn’t live in a great dark castle ex- 
actly, and yet it was a pretty big place for 


THE SINGER’S STORY 289 

a little girl who had only one brother and 
no mother or sister. She did have a very 
kind father, who gave her everything that 
she wanted; she had only to express a wish 
for something and it would be gratified, if 
money could procure it. So you may know 
that she had heaps of dolls and toys, and 
pretty dresses, and a dear little pony, all 
her own to ride on. And everybody loved 
her, and smiled at her, and indulged her 
every whim; but, in spite of it all, she was 
only a poor little girl because, you see, she 
had no mother to cherish and guide her. 

‘^When the little princess grew older, 
her father sent her to the best teachers to 
study music, and, as she had always loved 
to sing better than anything else in the 
world, she learned to do that very well in- 
deed. 

And then she met the prince. He was 
handsome and clever, but, better than all, 
he was noble and good. He was rich in 
everything but worldly wealth; of that he 
had not any. But the little princess loved 
him with all her heart; in fact, she loved 
him so much that she gave up everything 


290 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


for him. They were married one bright 
day and went away across the water to live 
in a little old Grerman city. But the father 
of the little princess was very angry, so 
angry that he said he never wanted to see 
her face again. You must know that he 
was very proud of his little princess and it 
hurt him to know that she had married a 
poor musician. 

^ ^ Time went on, and one day a little baby 
girl came to bless the prince and princess, 
the loveliest baby in all the world, and, oh! 
how wonderfully happy they were then. 
When baby was only a few weeks old, the 
musician and his wife used to stand hand- 
in-hand and watch her while she slept, and, 
when she was just old enough to toddle 
from one chair to another, they used to plan 
for her bright future. Well, dear, the little 
princess-mother was so happy that she 
sang all day long; she never thought any- 
body in all the world could be so happy. 
If there were one little cloud in her sky, 
it was at times a homesick longing for a 
sight of her dear father. One day she wrote 
to him, telling him all about the new baby, 


THE SINGER’S STORY 291 

how much she missed him and how she 
longed to see him. Her dear father wrote 
her a loving letter in return, and for many 
months happy letters were exchanged be- 
tween them. Then the princess did not 
hear from her father for a long time, and, 
when she did, it was a message from her 
father’s physician, an old friend of the fam- 
ily, telling her that the lonely man was very 
ill and alone in his beautiful home, ‘ Pine- 
hurst,’ and was calling for her. When the 
princess heard this she made up her mind 
to go at once and take care of her father. 
Well, Alys dear, her father got well again, 
but he had many trials, chief of which was 
a wayward son. 

When the poor little princess had writ- 
ten all this to the prince in the little home 
in Germany, he decided that his place was 
at her side during these troubles, and at 
once made arrangements to go to her. 

While the prince and the little baby 
girl and the baby’s good aunt were on their 
way to America, the father of the little 
princess died. I cannot tell you how lonely 
and sad the poor little princess was then; 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


m 

but the knowledge that her dear ones were 
even then on their way to her was the one 
gleam of hope that kept up her courage at 
this gloomy time. 

Then one terrible day something hap- 
pened and she knew that she would never 
see the dear little family again, that they 
were lost to her forever. 

Well, Alys, this heavy blow was more 
than the little princess could stand, and for 
a long time she was very ill; then one day 
she left America to go to England and make 
her home with an aunt who was her only 
living relative. For weeks and months the 
little princess was a pitiful wreck of her 
former self. Then, through the goodness 
of her aunt, she took up her music again. 
It was a very fortunate thing that she did 
this, because, not only did it take her mind 
away from her terrible loss, but it proved 
of practical help in many ways. The little 
princess, who had become an opera singer,1 
was known as Madame Barclaye, having 
taken the name of her kind aunt and uncle, 
who had helped her so much. The little 
princess never dreamed when she accepted 


THE SINGER’S STORY 293 

an offer to sing in America that it would 
mean all this,— but, my precious, you are 
sound asleep! ’’ 

The singer arose softly and laid Alys 
gently on the couch. She threw a light 
wrap over the child’s feet and stood there 
gazing at her. 

It was a beautiful picture full of the in- 
nocence and perfect sweetness of childhood. 
But the woman saw vastly more than this. 
Visions of the dear past floated over the 
child’s head. She put out her hand and 
touched, as if in a dream, the soft cheek, the 
fair curls, the little tender hands that had 
so often been held out to her when she had 
not been there. 

The hot tears blinded her as she thought 
of the closed room, the picture mother, 
Alys-all-alone, and the many bitter truths 
that had been brought home to her through 
Alys’s childish prattle. 

All at once she became conscious of some 
one standing there in the deepening gloom. 
The knowledge roused her from the reverie 
into which she had fallen. She turned 
quickly, to meet the musician. 


^94i 


ALYS - ALL - ALONE 


Oh, Karl,’’ she murmured, I had al- 
most forgotten; when did you come? ” 

For a minute he could not speak, then in 
a voice filled with emotion he answered, 
When you finished the story. Elaine, my 
sweet Elaine, I shall devote my life to help 
you forget the sad past and to make you 
happy. Sweetheart, come and hear of some 
more good fortune,” he cried, suddenly 
turning on the lights and drawing a letter 
from his pocket. Eead it, my darling. It 
means much to us. I must tell Alys, too, 
mein liebling, that my opera — my little 
‘ music story ’—is a success beyond my 
dreams! ” 

The singer could not speak; tears blinded 
her, but they were tears of joy. 

Oh, Karl,” she breathed, God is very 
good.” 

When Alys opened her eyes she saw 
her father and mother, their arms around 
each other, standing there looking down 
at her. The child must have felt the radi- 
ant happiness that shone in their faces. 
Her blue eyes sparkled with joy. She 
sat up and shook her sunny curls. Have 


THE SINGER’S STORY 


295 


you come for us, papa? Are we going 
home? 

He caught her in his arms. Yes, dar- 
ling,” he answered, but not to-night, it 
is too stormy. To-morrow we are going 
home.” 


CHAPTER XXX 

“HOME, SWEET HOME” 

I N the midst of her work, the following 
day, Nora heard a loud knock, and, on 
opening the door, there stood her 
cousin, the proud and mighty Malachi-on- 
the-force. 

If a rocket had suddenly exploded at her 
feet Nora could not have jumped back with 
more energy than she did at sight of the 
tall, red-faced young man in policeman’s 
garb. 

But only for an instant did she thus far 
forget herself, then, gathering all her 
forces, she turned on her heel and walked 
back to her ironing, with aU the dignity of 
an officer in command. 

Hello, Nora!” said the young man, 
stepping into the kitchen; you didn’t in- 
vite me in, but that’s all right.” 


“HOME, SWEET HOME” 297 

An’, on the foorce, they never goes 
anny place they’re not invited, acoorse,” 
returned Nora, scorn in every look and 
tone. 

Well, to tell the truth, Nora, I’d rather 
not, far as I, meself, is concerned.” 

Thin, there’s an aisy way out o’ here,” 
she remarked, pointing with her iron to the 
door. 

That’s right, too; but, say, Nora, I 
didn’t come here to talk. I s’pose yer know 
what I’m here for.” 

Is it cold wittles, I dunno? ” said Nora, 
airily, holding the iron aloft to touch it with 
a moistened finger-tip. 

Naw, it ain’t cold victuals; now no 
more o’ yer sass, or I might forget me- 
self.” 

‘‘Yer might forget yer self, might you,” 
cried Nora, setting down the iron, and 
facing him with arms akimbo. “ It’s a way 
they have on the foorce, I belave; but let 
me tell you wan thing, Malachi Tighe, 
ye’ve come to the wrong party ter show 
off yer brass buttons. I don’t care the wax 
on that iron for the whole body-gyuard of 


298 


ALYS- ALL -ALONE 


the nation. Policeman is it! What good 
are they? Are they ever on hand when 
they’re wanted? Where was the policeman 
the day that innercent lamb, that I’d the 
misfortune to lave for ten minutes in the 
park, was robbed and plundered? Where’s 
the locket, the solid gold chain and locket, 
that was taken in broad daylight from a 
chM? ” 

Is that it? ” snapped Malachi, break- 
ing in on Nora’s tirade by holding up the 
lost locket. 

^^Hivens!” cried Nora, starting back, 
every shade of animosity vanishing as 
she advanced and took the locket in her 
hands. 

Oh! thanks be, it’s the same! and won’t 
the masther be glad ter see that whin he 
comes home.” 

Isn’t he at home, then? ” asked Mala- 
chi, taking the locket and starting for the 
door, guess I’ll caU in again.” 

Nora was burning with curiosity to ask 
how the locket was found, and all about it; 
but there was an air about Malachi-on-the- 
force that did not invite questioning, so she 


“HOME, SWEET HOME 299 

bowed him out with a half-friendly smile, 
her bad opinion of the foorce,’’ and of 
this particular member of it, somewhat 
modified. 

She went to the window and watched 
Malachi until he was out of sight, admit- 
ting to herself that Tv all he’s bustin’ wid 
pride, since he’s on the foorce, he’s as fine 
a figger av a man, next to Tim, as I iver 
see,” and the mention of her sweetheart 
sent Nora a day-dreaming, from which 
she was aroused by the appearance of a 
coach that had stopped at the street door 
below. 

Glory be! ” cried Nora, there’s the 
masther himself gettin’ out, wid Alys, the 
darlin’, in his arms, and there’s— hivens! 
but he never towld me a lady was cornin’,” 
and Nora made a dive to put on a clean 
apron, and smooth her hair, and tidy the 
kitchen all at once. 

But the master of the house was imlock- 
ing the hall door, and the happy group, 
Alys leading the way, had entered the Cas- 
tle, and the lady was reading the large sign 
over the door to which Alys had pointed. 


300 ALYS - ALL - ALONE 

^^THE CASTLE OF SUNSHINE AND CHEER 
Princess Alys — Prince Do-re 
Sunshine made and distributed to all parts of 
the house, free of charge. 

Good cheer made expressly for: — 

Dark Days. 

Disappointments. 

Dubious Faces. 

Cross-patches. 

Sick-rooms. 

Bitter Medicines. 

Bad News. 

Anger Clouds. 

Hard Lessons. 

Failures, Blues and all Croakers.’^ 

<< Why! I’m very glad I’m here,” she 
said softly; this is just the place where 
I’ve always wanted to find Alys.” 

Oh! I’m so glad you’ve come, mother. 
I’ll never be Alys-all-alone again, and you’ll 
never be lonesome any more, will you, 
papa? Oh! isn’t it nice to be at home! ” 
The musician’s face was aglow with hap- 
piness. He was about to speak when all at 
once the Castle of Sunshine ” was fiooded 
with melody, his own beautiful symphony. 
Down-stairs, in Herr Stein’s apartments. 


“HOME, SWEET HOME” 301 

the men who loved the musician, and who 
rejoiced in his happiness, played it as never 
before. There were tears in the singer’s 
eyes as she listened. 

Oh! Karl, it is our own story. I have 
lived it all over again, and it is beautiful.” 

And this is home,” he whispered, it 
is good! ” 

And you are my mother,” cried Alys, 
it is true! ” 


THE END. 


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THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HERO 

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THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING- 

(Trade Mark) 

SCHOOL 

THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S CHRISTMAS 

(Trade Mark) 

VACATION 

THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S KNIGHT COMES 

(Trade Mark) 

RIDING 

MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL’S 
CHUM 

MARY WARE IN TEXAS 

These eleven volumes, with The Little ColoneVs Good Times 
Book, boxed as a twelve-volume set, $18.00. 

A— 1 


L. C. PAGE CO MPA NY S 


THE LITTLE COLONEL 

(Trade Mark) 

TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY 
THE GIANT SCISSORS 
BIG BROTHER 

Special Holiday Editions 

Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.26 
New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page 
drawings in color, and many marginal sketches. 

IN THE DESERT OF WAITING: The Legend 

OF Camelback Mountain. 

THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy Tale for 
Fathers and Mothers as Well as for Their 
Daughters. 

KEEPING TRYST 

THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART 
THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME: 

A Fairy Play for Old and Young. 


THE JESTER’S SWORD 

Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative . $0.50 

Paper boards .35 


There has been a constant demand for publication in 
separate form of these six stories which were originally 
included in six of the “ Little Colonel ’ books. 

JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE: By Annie Fellows 

Johnston. Illustrated by L. J. Bridgman. 

New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel 
Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative . $1.50 

A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author’s 
best-known books. 

A— 2 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES 
BOOK 

Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series . .50 

Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold . . 3.00 

Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. 
Pubhshed in response to many inquiries from readers 
of the Little Colonel books as to where they could obtain 
a “ Good Times Book ” such as Betty kept. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL DOLL BOOK 

Large quarto, boards $1.60 

A series of “ Little Colonel ” dolls, — not only the 
Little Colonel herself, but Betty and Kitty and Mary- 
Ware, yes, and Rob, Phil, and many another of the well- 
loved characters, — even Mom’ Beck herself. There are 
many of them and each has several changes of costume, so 
that the happy group can be appropriateljy clad for the 
rehearsal of any scene or incident in the senes. 

The large, cumbersome sheets of most of the so-called 
doll “ books ” have been discarded, and instead each 
character, each costive, occupies a sheet by itself, the 
dolls and costumes being cut out only as they are wanted. 
ASA HOLMES: Or, At the Cross-Roads. A sketch 
of Country Life and Country Humor. By Annie 
Fellows Johnston. 

With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. 

Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top . . . . . $1.00 

“ ‘ Asa Holmes; or. At the Cross-Roads ’ is the most 
delightful, most sympathetic and wholesome book that 
has been published in a long while.” — Boston Times. 
THE RIVAL CAMPERS; Or, The Adventures op 
Henry Burns. By Ruel Perley Smith. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, 
alert, and athletic, who spend a summer camping on an 
island off the Maine coast. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT; Or, The 

Prize Yacht Viking. By Ruel Perley Smith. 
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

This book is a continuation of the adventures of “ The 
Rival Campers” on their prize yacht Viking. 


L. C. PAGE COMPANY'S 


THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE 

By Ruel Perley Smith. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

“ As interesting ashore as when afloat.’’ — The Interior. 

THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE 
OYSTER PIRATES ; Or, Jack Harvey’s Adven- 
tures. By Ruel Perley Smith. Illustrated . $1.50 

“Just the type of book which is most popular with lads 
who are in their early teens.” — The Philadelphia Item. 

FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS. By Charles 
H. L. Johnston. 

Large 12mo. With 24 illustrations . . . $1.50 

Biographical sketches, with interesting anecdotes and 
reminiscences of the heroes of history who were leaders 
of cavalry. 

“ More of such books should be written, books that 
acquaint young readers with historical personages in a 
pleasant informal way.” — N. Y. Sun. 

FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS. By Charles H. 
L. Johnston. 

Large 12mo, illustrated . . . . . . $1.50 

In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of 
the Indian braves who have figured with prominence in 
the history of our own land, including Powhatan, the 
Indian Caesar; Massasoit, the friend of the Puritans; 
Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war 
chief of the Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief 
of the Sioux; Geronimo, the renowned Apache Chief, etc. 

FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVEN- 
TURERS OF THE SEA. By Charles H. L. 
Johnston. 

Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50 

In this volume Mr. Johnston tells interesting stories 
about the famous sailors of fortune. There are tales of 
Captain Otway Burns, patriot, privateer and legislator; 
Woodes Rogers, scourge of the South Sea trade; Captain 
William Death, wolf of the ocean; and of many others. 

A — 4 


BOOJirS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


FAMOUS SCOUTS. By Charles H. L. Johnston. 
Large 12mo, illustrated . . . . . $1.50 

Mr. Johnston gives us historical facts and biographical 
sketches and interesting anecdotes of those heroes of early 

E ioneer days who made names for themselves among the 
ardy adventurers who thronged the border. There are 
tales of Gen. Israel Putnam; the celebrated Daniel Boone; 
Kit Carson, the noted scout; Lewis and Clarke, the hardy 
explorers; the world-renowned Buffalo Bill, and of many 
other famous scouts, trappers and pioneers. 
BEAUTIFUL JOE’S PARADISE: Or, The 
Island op Brotherly Lo ve . A sequel to ‘ ‘ Beautiful Joe . ” 
By Marshall Saunders, author of “ Beautiful Joe.” 
One vol., library 12mo, cloth, illustrated . . $1.50 

“ This book revives the spirit of ‘ Beautiful Joe ’ capi- 
tally. It is fairly riotous with fun, and is about as unusual 
as anything in the animal book line that has seen the 
light.” — Philadelphia Item. 

’TILDA JANE. By Marshall Saunders. 

One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 
“ I cannot think of any better book for children than 
this. I commend it unreservedly .” — Cyrtis Tovmsend 
Brady. 

’TILDA JANE’S ORPHANS. A sequel to ’Tilda 
Jane.” By Marshall Saunders. 

One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 
’Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as 
fond of her animal pets as ever. 

THE STORY OF THE GRAVELE YS. By Mar- 
shall Saunders, author of “ Beautiful Joe’s Para- 
dise,” “ ’Tilda Jane,” etc. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. 

Barry $1.50 

Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and 
triumphs, of a delightful New England family, of whose 
devotion and sturdiness it will do the reader good to hear. 
BORN TO THE BLUE. By Florence Kimball 
Russel. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.25 

The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on 
every page oi this delightful tale. The boy is the son of a 
captain of U. S. cavalry stationed at a frontier post in the 
days when our regulars earned the gratitude of a nation, 

A— 6 


L. C. PAGE <Sr- COMPANY'S 


IN WEST POINT GRAY 

By Florence Kimball Russel. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

“ Singularly enough one of the best books of the year 
for boys is written by a woman and deals with life at West 
Point. The presentment of life in the famous military 
academy whence so many heroes have graduated is realistic 
and enjoyable .” — New York Sun. 

THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES 

By William J. Hopkins. With fifty illustrations by 
Ada Clendenin Williamson. 

Large 12mo, decorative cover . . . . $1.50 

“ An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of 
very small children. It should be one of the most popular 
of the year’s books for reading to small children.” — 
Buffalo Express. 

THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES 

By William J. Hopkins. 

Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 
Mr. Hopkins’s first essay at bedtime stories met with 
such approval that this second book of “ Sandman ” tales 
was issued for scores of eager children. Life on the farm, 
and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his inimitable manner. 

THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES 

By William J. Hopkins, author of “ The Sandman; 
His Farm Stories,” etc. 

Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 
“ Children call for these stories over and over again.” — 
Chicago Evening Post. 

THE SANDMAN: HIS SEA STORIES 

By William J. Hopkins. 

Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 
Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series 
of stories to be read to the little ones at bed time and at 
other times. 

A — 6 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


A TEXAS BLUE BONNET 

By Emilia Elliott. 

12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . . $1.50 

This is the story of a warm-hearted, impulsive and breezy 
girl of the Southwest, who has lived all her hfe on a big 
ranch. She comes to the far East for a long visit, and her 
experiences “ up North ” are indeed delightful reading. 
Blue Bonnet is sure to win the hearts of all girl readers. 

THE DOCTOR’S LITTLE GIRL 

By Marion Ames Taggart. 

One vol., library 12mo, illustrated . . . $1.50 

A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her com- 
rade father, written in a delightful vein of sympathetic 
comprehension of the child’s point of view. 

SWEET NANCY 

The Further Adventures op the Doctor’s Little 
Girl. By Marion Ames Taggart. 

One vol., library 12mo, illustrated . . . $1.50 

In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes 
in fact “ the doctor’s assistant,” and continues to shed 
happiness around her. 

NANCY, THE DOCTOR’S LITTLE PART- 
NER 

By Marion Ames Taggart. 

One vol., library 12mo, illustrated . . . $1.50 

In Nancy Porter, Miss Taggart has created one of the 
most lovable child characters in recent years. In the 
new story she is the same bright and cheerful little maid. 

ALYS- ALL -ALONE 

By Una Macdonald. 

Library 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

A delightful, well-written, happy-ending story which 
will gladden the hearts of many a reader. Thougn dearly 
loved above all else, a little girl, Alys, must be left some- 
what alone. Indeed she feels and calls herself “Alys-All- 
Alone.” The story closes with the little girl happily estab- 
lished in a real home — no longer “ Alys-All-Alone.” 

A — 7 


Z. C. PAGE COMPANY'S 


GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK 

By Evaleen Stein. 

Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and deco- 
rated in colors by Adelaide Everhart . . . $1.00 

Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who 
assisted the monks in the long ago days, when all the books 
were written and illuminated by hand, in the monasteries. 

A LITTLE SHEPHERD OF PROVENCE 

By Evaleen Stein. 

Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated in colors by 

Diantha Horne Marlowe $1.00 

This is the story of Little lame Jean, a goatherd of 
Provence, and of the “ golden goat ” who is supposed 
to guard a hidden treasure. 

THE STORY OF RAOUL 

By Evaleen Stein. 

Cloth, 12mo, illustrated and decorated in colors $1.25 
This is the story of a lad of noble birth, who, though kid- 
napped by an uncle who had long been an enemv to the 
house of Raoul, succeeds by his very kindness and lovable 
nature in winning the affections of the old man. 

THE CHRISTMAS MAKERS’ CLUB 


By Edith A. Sawyer. 

Cloth decorative, illustrated by Ada C. Williamson $1.50 
One of the best books for girls that has been published 
for a long time. It abounds in merrymaking and the right 
kind of fun, and possesses a gentle humor and pathos 
which will touch the hearts of mothers as well as their 
daughters. 

ELSA’S GIFT HOME 

By Edith A. Sawyer. 

Cloth decorative, illustrated by Florence E. Nos- 

worthy . $1.50 

A delightful and sunshiny story which tells more about 
the dainty Elsa Danforth and her girl chums. How genial 
Uncle Ned’s Christmas gift brought joy not only to Elsa 
and the “ Christmas Club,” but to many others, is the 
happy theme for a whole-spirited book for girls. 

A — 8 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND; Or, The .Aj>- 
VENTURES OF Allan West.. By Burton E. Stevenson. 
Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

Mr. Stevenson’s hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is 
given a chance as a section-hand on a big Western rail- 
road, and whose experiences are as real as they are thrilling. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER. By Bur- 
ton E. Stevenson. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . . $1.50 

“ A better book for boys has never left an American 
press.” — Springfield Union. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER. By Burton E. 
Stevenson. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

“ Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for 
boys in which the actualities of life are set forth in a practi- 
cal way could be devised or written.” — Boston Herald. 

CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER. By Winn Standish. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

Jack is a fine example of the all-around American high- 
school boy. 

JACK LORIMER’S CHAMPIONS; Or, Sporu 

ON Land and Lake. By Winn Standish. 

Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated . $1.50 

“It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested 
in athletics, for it shows him what it means to always 
‘ play fair.’ ” — Chicago Tribune. 

JACK LORIMER’S HOLIDAYS; Or, Millvale 
High in Camp. By Winn Standish. 

Illustrated $1.50 

Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to 
excite the healthy minded youngster to emulation. 

JACK LORIMER’S SUBSTITUTE; Or, The Act- 
ing Captain of the Team. By Winn Standish. 

Illustrated $1.50 

On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wres- 
tling, tobogganing, but it is more of a school story perhaps 
than any of its predecessors. 

4—9 


Z. C. PAGE 6- COMPANY'S 


THE RED FEATHERS. By G. E. T. Roberts. 
Cloth decorative, illustrated . . . . $1.50 

The Red Feathers ” tells of the remarkable adventures 
of an Indian boy who lived in the Stone Age, many years 
ago, when the world was young. 

FLYING PLOVER. By G. E. Theodore Roberts. 
Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston 

Bull $1.00 

Squat-By-The-Fire is a very old and wise Indian who 
lives alone with her grandson, “ Flying Plover,” to whom 
she tells the stories each evening. 

COMRADES OF THE TRAILS. By G. E. 

Theodore Roberts. 

Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston 

Bull $1.50 

The story of a fearless young English lad, Dick Ramsey, 
who, after the death of his father, crosses the seas and 
takes up the life of a hunter in the Canadian forests. 

MARCHING WITH MORGAN. How Donald 
Lovell Became a Soldier op the Revolution. 

By John V. Lane. 

Cloth decorative, illustrated .... $1.50 

This is a splendid boy’s story of the expedition of 
Montgomery and Arnold against Quebec. 

RODNEY, THE RANGER Or, With Daniel 
Morgan on Trail and Battlefield. By John V. 
Lane. 

Cloth decorative, illustrated . . . . $1.50 

Young Rodney Allison, although but fifteen years of 
age, played a man’s part in the troublous times pre- 
ceding the American Revolution and in the War itself. 

CHINESE PLAYMATES 

By Norman H. Pitman. 

Small cloth 12mo, illustrated .... $1.00 

A worth-while, happy little story about two little 
Chinese boys, Lo-Lo and Ta-Ta, and the strange fortunes 
that befell them when they wandered from home. 

A— 10 


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



